How To Get Unstuck

Sometimes, it requires drastic action. And in my case, a bicycle.

This was one of those weeks where I felt like I was staring at my computer for far too long without doing anything. Have you ever been there? Who am I kidding, of course you have. I bet you know it well. It’s like the world is going 1,000 mph and 0 mph simultaneously. You have an obscene to-do list, but nothing is shifting. You feel a sense of urgency, but also extremely stuck. You hope to snap out of the malaise at any given moment, suddenly becoming insanely productive. 

… But we all know it doesn’t usually happen like that.

After day two of experiencing minimal wins at my desk, I made the conscious decision to do something about it and step away. On Wednesday morning, I woke up at 5 a.m., lubed up my bike chain, put on a long sleeve jersey and my warmest socks, carried her down the four flights of stairs, and headed out across the George Washington Bridge to ride toward upstate. I’ve adventured that way a handful of times now, always with friends who really know how to change a tire if it pops (I’m working on it, I swear). 

With someone else leading the way, I’m granted with the opportunity to stop worrying a little. Zone out a bit. Focus on the task at hand — whether that’s keeping an eye out for potholes are simply getting myself up a steep climb. Perhaps the best part? For the 4-or-so hours that it takes to cover almost 60 miles, my phone isn’t in my right hand or visible on my desk. Which means I’m not worried about:

Alerts.
Emails.
Texts.
DMs.
A lot.

On the ride, I can just be. Reclaim my time. Reclaim my sanity. There’s no judgement. It’s just getting from point A to point B (there are always donuts at point B), and then back to point A.

I got back to my place on Wednesday around noon, and felt good. Really good. Less angry. More confident. More capable. More like … me.

I used to get really frustrated about that scenario, you know? The one where I’m just not getting things done or feeling “stuck.” But I’ve come to realize that when there are things that feel like they are out of my control, there are inevitably going to be other things that are IN it. While I may not be able to immediately solve my brain fog, I can do something that will help me move past any particular hurdle (even if it’s slower than I’d like). Instead of getting down on myself, I can look at my toolbox and ask: “What is possible at this very moment?”

Of course, this concept applies beyond this particular situation. We have the chance to think bigger picture. Whatever you may be struggling with at this particular moment, remember that it’s only one part of your life.

Don’t forget the rest.

Refocus. Take a deep breath. Keep pushing forward.

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PROMPT: What are the important components in a life that you love? Get specific.