Rediscovering Motivation: Getting Unstuck in Your Career

Feeling lost, bored, or stuck at work? 

You’re not the only one.

In fact, this is one of the most common things I hear from clients. They say things like, “I don’t know if this is what I want anymore,” or “I’m just going through the motions.” Mentally, emotionally, or professionally — they’re checked out. But they don’t want to stay that way.

And if that’s where you are right now, let me be clear: You don’t have to settle for a career that no longer lights you up.

There are real, doable steps you can take to reconnect with what inspires you. You can find your spark again. You can feel excited about Mondays.

Let’s walk through what it takes to get unstuck, so you can start building a career that fits who you are now. 💛

Step 1: Understand what’s draining your motivation 

Before you can rediscover motivation, you need to know where it went.

Start by getting brutally honest with yourself:

• Is it the work itself, the people, the environment, the lack of growth, or something else?
• When do you find yourself procrastinating or zoning out?
• Are you physically tired? Or emotionally checked out?
• What parts of your work day drain you the most?

If you’re not sure, try journaling for one week. (Just five to 10 minutes at the end of each workday.) Write down what felt energizing and what felt heavy. Patterns will start to emerge. You might realize it’s not the job, it’s the manager. Or it’s not the company, it’s the fact that you’ve outgrown the role.

The goal here isn’t to fix anything yet. It’s to diagnose the root cause. Once you know what’s truly draining your motivation, you can do something about it.

Step 2: Reflect on what motivates and energizes you

Once you’ve identified what’s not working, turn your focus to what does.

Ask yourself:

• When was the last time you felt genuinely proud of your work?
• What types of projects or tasks make you feel energized? 
• What did you love doing as a kid or early in your career?
• What types of projects or tasks make you feel in flow?
• What do people always come to you for help with?

Now go deeper. 

➜ Reconnect with your values. You can use a free values card sort tool online or write down what matters to you most in your work. (Such as autonomy, creativity, security, purpose, learning, leadership, etc.)

➜ Then, look at your strengths and skills. What are you good at that you actually enjoy doing? These aren’t always the same thing, so be specific.

Step 3: Explore new possibilities or paths within or outside your current role

Now that you’ve mapped out what drains you and what drives you, it’s time to think about your options. 

Start brainstorming paths that align with your motivations. 

For example, you might consider:

• Pivoting into a new industry where your skills are still relevant
• Moving to a competitor that better aligns with your values
• Transitioning into a different role within your company
• Looking for companies that match your values
• Going back to school or earning a certificate
• Launching a freelance service or side hustle
• Changing teams or departments

You don’t have to make a drastic leap right away. 

Start by researching and finding people who are already doing the thing you’re curious about — and ask what their path looked like. LinkedIn is a goldmine for this.

From there, make a loose plan. You don’t need every step figured out, but you do need a direction. Pick one or two paths that excite you, and map the first few things you’d need to do to explore them further.

After researching and exploring these new paths, make your choice. 

➜ You might decide that you’re finally ready to take that marine biology course to pursue your childhood dreams. Or that you’re finally ready to ask for a promotion and pay raise at the organization you’ve poured so much of yourself into.

Write your new target down. This will be your new official “end goal” or long-term goal until you decide to change it or try something else.

Step 4: Set small, actionable goals to build momentum

Big career changes don’t happen overnight. But small steps, taken consistently, do lead to big results.

So, break your long-term goal into manageable pieces. If your goal is to move into UX design, maybe your first milestone is to take a short intro course. Then, your next steps could be: 

1. Build a sample project. 
2. Update your resume.
3. Apply to five jobs a day.
4. And so on.

Keep your milestone goals actionable and specific. 

For instance, instead of saying, “Find a graduate program,” say, “Research five graduate programs in my state and write down pros and cons by next Friday.”

Track your progress weekly and celebrate your small wins to build up momentum and confidence.

Step 5: Seek support, mentorship, or feedback

You don’t have to do this alone. And honestly, you shouldn’t.

Support speeds up clarity. Whether that’s with a coach (hi 👋), a mentor, a peer in your industry, or a friend who’s a great listener, surrounding yourself with people who understand your goals can make a huge difference.

Here’s how to get the most out of this step:

• Consider working with a career coach who can help you clarify your path and hold you accountable.
• Ask your network for introductions to people in the roles you’re curious about.
• Get feedback on your strengths from colleagues or mentors.
• Join professional groups or attend local meetups.

Even one good conversation can shift your perspective and change your career path.

Step 6: Take consistent steps toward your new direction

This is the part where things start to change — but only if you keep going.

Clarity without action is just daydreaming. So commit to yourself. Build a weekly habit of career action. Start with one hour a week, build up to two, and then three, and so on. The more time you spend on this, the faster you’ll reach your end goal. 

During your career action time, you might: 

• Send cold emails to professionals in your desired field
• Submit five to 10 job applications
• Update your LinkedIn profile
• Attend coaching sessions
• Request testimonials 
• Meet with a mentor 
• Tailor your resume
• Enroll in a course
• Volunteer 
• Freelance
  

As you continue to take steps forward, your motivation will naturally start to return, you’ll feel in control again, and you’ll feel excited about what’s to come.

Wrap up 

If you’ve been feeling stuck, know this: You’re not broken, and you’re not behind. You’re just ready for something new, and that’s a good thing.

Let’s recap the steps from this quick guide:

1. Understand what’s draining your motivation.
2. Reflect on what energizes you.
3. Explore new possibilities.
4. Set small goals.
5. Seek support.
6. Take consistent action.

You don’t need to have everything figured out today. You just need to start.

✨ Ready to stop feeling stuck and start building a career that actually lights you up?