Why you feel stuck — and how to get motivated - Shannon Odell

Key wellness / motivation strategies (and how they help you get unstuck)

• Recognize the “stuck in the middle” effect Motivation often feels highest at the start and end of a project, but the middle can feel detached as your perspective shifts from “progress so far” to “how much is left.”

• Break big goals into smaller sub-goals

  • Create incremental benchmarks you can compare against.
  • Increase the chances to celebrate wins along the way to prevent motivational “sinkholes.”

• Fight feelings of powerlessness with focus on the next action For large, complex problems (e.g., climate, inequality), remind yourself that no single person solves everything, but individual actions still matter.

• Build confidence that your involvement can make a difference Research referenced suggests that concern alone isn’t enough; those who take action tend to have stronger belief in their personal impact. Tie your efforts to the broader evidence that social change is possible.

• Harness emotion strategically (especially moral outrage) Anger/outrage can help clarify what’s at stake and unify people—when it’s channeled constructively rather than letting it spiral into hopelessness.

• Use community to sustain motivation

  • Watch others taking action to create a positive feedback loop that increases your own follow-through.
  • Collaboration helps when you’re unsure of the next step.
  • Social support can restore energy and hope when you feel exhausted, defeated, or stuck.
  • Bringing together different backgrounds and mindsets supports resilience and longevity in movements.

Simple self-care / momentum technique

• Take “any action,” even if it’s small or imperfect Examples given: writing the next sentence, running an extra mile, or voting. The goal is to move from stuck → moving, because progress starts with the next step, not perfect clarity.

Presenters / Sources

• Shannon Odell (video title/subject)
• Psychologists (re: “stuck in the middle” effect)
• A 2021 global survey of young people (reported belief that humanity is doomed)
• Research on climate change action (stated finding about alarmed individuals)
• American Civil Rights Movement (historical example)