Is there a project, problem, or decision that you are stuck on?

Have you been spinning your wheels trying to figure out the perfect solution with no luck?

If so, then you can continue to beat your head against the wall with hopes that a lightbulb will eventually go off.  But I’d like to offer you a different approach.  One that won’t leave you with a pounding headache…

Change your surroundings.

 

I don’t mean that you should just pick up and move (although that could be an option).  What I am suggesting to you though is that if you feel stuck or confused, then temporarily getting outside of your normal surroundings and thought patterns could give you the breakthrough that you’ve been looking for.

As I write this, I’m sitting in the lobby of the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta, which is a couple of hours from Birmingham, AL where I currently live.  I’ve spent this entire weekend changing my surroundings and as a result I have been able to reach new levels of thinking.

 

It’s pretty cool how well this works…

When we constantly see the same people, go to the same places, and do the same things; we get stuck where we are.

So, to get unstuck, make a change.

 

You don’t have to spend a ton of money or time to do this, but you certainly can if you want to.

Here are a few suggestions for ways to change things up and gain some new perspective. These suggestions range from free and only requiring a little time to expensive and requiring a serious time commitments. Find the solution that fits your current situation best and GET GOING!

8 WAYS TO GET UN-STUCK

 

Pack a Bag and Get in the Car: This is one of my favorites because it is kind of adventurous.  As you begin driving, figure out how much time you have and then listen to where your gut tells you to go and head that direction.  Without having a detailed agenda, you are certain to encounter a little adventure and some new perspectives.  You can always stop off at a Starbucks along the way and do a little trip planning if you’re feeling the need.  Tip: the less time spend packing and planning the better.  Give yourself 10 mins to pack and leave.

 

Change Your Sleep Pattern: This is an easy one.  Just change when you go to bed and get up for a week or two.  I like staying up later and using the extra time to do activities I normally don’t get to do.  This change always seems to help me look at things differently.

Wilderness Solo: Feeling really brave and wanting some big breakthroughs?  About 10 years ago I completed an Outward Bound wilderness expedition that lasted about a month.  We spend part of the course doing a “solo.”   The solo consisted of being completely alone in the wilderness with only very basic food and shelter (we were given a hand full of nuts, a tarp, and some iodine tablets to purify water).  You will get very bored, but you will also gain significant insight.  Your solo could vary from simply camping in your backyard for a night or two to the extreme of spending 5 months thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

Vary Your Entertainment:  Go to a movie that you normally would not pick.  Read a completely different type of book.  Find a fun activity to do that you haven’t done before.

Socialize With Strangers:  I have a confession.  I kind of like to travel by myself sometimes.  It’s exciting to me to go to a completely different city and then go out and meet and socialize with complete strangers.  The benefits here are: it’s adventurous, you learn about different people, places, and ways of thinking, and it can help you realize that the world is a lot bigger than your life.  You don’t have to leave town to do this (although I like doing it that way best).  You can just pick a night to go out by yourself and explore.  The key is to be brave. Start conversations. Learn.

Take a Walk or go Exercise: Stuck on a small problem at the office?  Drop it and come back to it.  Go walk for 20 mins or get an intense workout in and you will come back to your problem with refreshed energy and creativity.

Sail Around the World: Ok, so admittedly I haven’t gotten to this one yet.  I think it’s safe to say though that if you check this one off your bucket list then you will have gained a whole new level of thinking (and a rich adventure that will enrich your life for the rest of your days).  Oh and if you decide to knock this one out, give me a buzz 🙂

Volunteer/Give Back: Probably the best one on the list.  Go spend your time helping those with very significant problems.  You will probably come back way less concerned about the “problems” you thought you had.

There are certainly many more ways to make some temporary changes in your life.  You  can pick one of the ones above or come up with your own ideas.

 

The important thing is to do it.

 

I want to emphasize that the goal is NOT to escape your problems.  No, what makes changing things up so effective is that it allows you to push “pause”, step away, and return with bigger and better levels of thought to deal with the current situations in your life.

I hope you found these tips helpful.  If you did, please like this on Facebook and help me spread the message by sharing with your friends. And as always, please comment below with your thoughts.

Have an awesome week!

– Robert