This is not how you imagined your life would go, was it?
As a kid, you probably dreamed of being an astronaut, fireman, dancer, or something else extraordinary.
Back in college, you had a whole career planned out.
Yet here you are, doing the same menial tasks every day, unable to make any progress or move forward with your career.
So what happened and is there a way out?
That’s what we’re here to find out.
We’re gonna look at 11 reasons you’re stuck in a professional rut as well as how to get out of it.
Off we go:
1) You haven’t set clear goals
Childhood dreams aside, what is it that you want to achieve career-wise?
When you finished your studies or when you got hired at your current job, what did you see in your future?
Getting promoted in six months? Climbing the corporate ladder? Making partner one day?
If you’re not quite sure what you want, it could explain why you’re stuck in a professional rut.
Think about it: Without direction and a goal to work toward, it’s gonna be hard to make progress.
It’s kind of like driving a car without knowing the destination. Do you see what I mean?
2) You’ve become too comfortable
I’ve been there.
Years ago I got a job as an office assistant. It was meant to be temporary so I could save some money and move to London and New York and start my photography career.
But then, I got comfortable.
I thought, why don’t I stay a bit longer? I mean, quitting now, moving abroad, and starting from scratch – as an artist no less- is pretty scary…
Does that sound like you?
Maybe you’re comfortable where you are. It’s not your dream job or position, you’re stuck in a rut, but it’s safe.
You’re scared to ask for a promotion or change jobs because that would mean change and change can be scary, with so many unknowns.
But here’s the thing, if you refuse to embrace change and take some risks, you’re gonna remain stuck, and down the line you’re gonna regret not being more proactive.
3) You don’t network
Networking can feel awkward and unnatural for some people, I completely understand.
I mean, you’re basically going around meeting people and making contacts all for the sake of advancing your career. It can feel insincere.
But if you don’t do it, you’re limiting your professional network and thus your career opportunities.
Like it or not, networking is one of the main ways people get ahead in their careers. It’s up to you.
4) Your work-life balance is a disaster
Work isn’t everything.
You need to have a life outside of work, otherwise, what are you working for?
If you spend all your time and energy on your work and neglect your personal life, chances are you’ll experience burnout.
And guess what?
That can actually hinder your professional growth.
You need to recharge your batteries from time to time, you know?
5) You stopped growing
You went to college and learned your craft?
Great!
But it doesn’t stop there.
Learning is a lifelong process, especially today with the various technologies most of us use for work.
Do you know what happens if you fail to upgrade your skills from time to time?
You become irrelevant.
6) You’ve got a negative mindset
A pessimistic attitude won’t get you very far in either your personal or professional life.
If you keep on focusing on all your faults and keep telling yourself, “I can’t do this” or “I can’t do that”, eventually, you’ll start to believe it.
That’s how people get stuck in a professional rut.
7) You don’t get feedback
Something’s not right, that much we know. You’re not moving forward in your career, but why?
It can be difficult to figure out what you’re doing wrong all by yourself.
And to make matters worse, you’re not getting any feedback – positive or negative – from your peers or supervisors.
It’s no wonder you’re stuck in a professional rut.
8) You lack initiative
Look, I’m not very pushy by nature so I understand why you may not be either.
It can be embarrassing to put yourself out there, take risks, make suggestions, and ask for what you want.
But waiting for opportunities to come to you is a common mistake.
How will anyone notice you if you lack initiative and hide in the shadows?
9) You’re terrible at time management
Okay, so you’re not Swiss but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn to manage your time more effectively.
Poor time management leads to reduced productivity and missed career chances – I see it all the time.
All in all, if you don’t learn to prioritize your tasks based on their importance and deadlines and manage your time better, you’re gonna remain stuck.
10) You lack self-confidence
- You feel like you’re not good enough; not smart enough.
- You’re afraid of failing at new challenges.
- You’re scared of getting rejected, so you don’t even ask for a promotion.
The truth is that a lack of self-confidence can keep you stuck in your rut by keeping you back from pursuing new challenges or promotions.
11) Your work environment is toxic
I’ve been in a toxic work environment and I can attest to the fact that it makes professional growth nearly impossible.
You can do everything right and be the perfect employee but if someone doesn’t like you or your supervisor wants to bring in a friend for that position you were promised, you’re gonna be stuck pushing paper.
Climbing out of the rut
Okay, now that we’ve identified the reasons behind your professional rut, it’s time to figure out how to break free.
Are you ready?
1) Set clear goals
The first thing you need to do is define your career objectives.
Not sure what you want to be doing?
- Identify what you’re passionate about: What excites you professionally? Your goals should align with your interests.
- Set clear goals: Instead of a vague goal like “get promoted and make a lot of money,” specify what role you want, the skills you’ll need, and how long it might take…
- Set a timeline: Set realistic timelines for each goal, allowing for incremental progress. Differentiate between what you want to achieve in the next year versus the next five years.
2) Seek out new challenges
If you want to get out of your rut you need to be able to step out of your comfort zone.
What’s the worst that can happen? You’re already stuck.
- Take on new responsibilities
- Volunteer for challenging projects that will allow you to acquire new skills
- Find a mentor: Why not? See if there’s someone at your workplace who can guide you in your quest for more demanding roles.
3) Start to network
Come on, you’ve got this.
Time to start networking!
- Make a LinkedIn profile and engage with your professional network.
- Attend conferences, seminars, and industry events, and be sure to talk to people! Meet new contacts.
- Follow up: Don’t just collect business cards and put them in a drawer. Follow up – send a personalized message to maintain those connections.
It’s really not that bad and you might even meet some interesting people and make friends!
4) Find a good life-work balance
Hey, remember that you need to find a healthy life-work balance.
- If you need to, set boundaries: Communicate when you are off-duty and unavailable for work. In other words, when you’re on holiday, you’re on holiday!
- Prioritize self-care: Go to the gym after work. Have drinks with your friends. Don’t stay late in the office every night, you need to relax to maintain your mental and physical health. Trust me, it will get you out of your professional (and personal rut)!
5) Keep learning
There’s no way to advance in your career if you’re not willing to learn new things.
- Take online courses
- Attend workshops
- Get certified to stay in the game
- Read online journals and blog posts in your field
- Talk to other professionals and exchange ideas
6) Cultivate positivity
Trust me, adopting a more positive mindset will do wonders for you.
So what can you do?
- Start your day with positive affirmations. These are positive phrases that you repeat to yourself – they will reinforce your self-worth and capabilities. For example, “Today will be a great day at work” and “I’m gonna find a solution to the problem and show what I’m capable of”
- Keep a gratitude journal: Writing in a gratitude journal regularly will help remind you of the things you’re grateful for – all the positive stuff in life and your career. It’s a great way to move from a negative attitude in life to a positive one.
7) Ask for feedback
Remember how I said you can’t know how you’re doing and how you can improve unless you get feedback?
Well here’s the thing, if nobody is approaching you with feedback, why not go to them?
Be proactive. Initiate conversations with your co-workers and superiors to get input.
And once you do, be sure to use it as a tool for improvement and follow up with actions to show your commitment to growth.
8) Take initiative once in a while
Just like with the point above, you have to stop sitting around and waiting.
- Do you want a certain project? Ask to work on it
- Do you want a promotion? Talk to your boss about it.
You need to take the initiative and actively seek out growth opportunities, whether within your current organization or externally.
9) Learn how to manage your time
If you want to get ahead at work, you need to be more organized and manage your time better.
- Set goals: Establish clear daily and weekly goals to stay focused and productive.
- Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.
10) Work on your confidence
There are so many ways to boost your confidence – from working with a therapist to self-affirmation and mentorship.
- Positive self-talk: Replace self-doubt with positive affirmations that remind you of your capabilities.
- Set achievable goals: The truth is that when you have unrealistic goals and you want to go BIG, you’ll probably fail. And that’s terrible for your self-confidence. Start with smaller, achievable goals and gradually build your confidence as well as your skills.
11) Evaluate your environment
Ask yourself, is it me or is there something wrong with my environment?
Is this a healthy or toxic place to work?
If it’s the latter, you need to consider alternative, healthier options.
Personally, when I was stuck in a toxic work environment I decided it was not worth the emotional turmoil. and I wasn’t getting anywhere professionally.
So, I quit. Best decision ever.
