At some point in our lives, we all feel directionless and have no idea what to do with our lives. It’s completely natural and it passes, but when you’re stuck in a bad place, it can be hard to know what to do to get yourself out of it. To avoid any further frustration and start making progress, try doing these things.
- Find your focus. Ask yourself what you want from life. It could be aspirational or materialistic. Maybe you want to buy a house or get a promotion at work. Having some idea of what you want is a good starting point to finding purpose. After all, you can’t go after what you want if you don’t know what it is.
- Realize that you’re in control. When life’s chaotic, everything feels out of your control. No matter what you do, things don’t get better. Understand that even thought there are things you can’t control, you can control yourself and your reaction to situations. What you don’t like within yourself, you can always improve upon.
- Pursue your passions and hobbies. Work can be overwhelming, especially when it’s a big part of your life. When you don’t leave room to do other things, it’s easy to feel lost. Dedicate time to pursue passions and hobbies. Even if you don’t know what you like, it’s time to try new things. Having time to do things you enjoy is so important.
- Write down your thoughts. When our internal road map glitches, it becomes hard to make decisions because we feel easily overwhelmed and frustrated. Our thoughts constantly race to the point our judgment is clouded. Journaling helps find clarity. If you can’t think of what to write, there are plenty of journal prompts online.
- Ask for help. There’s no shame in asking for help. When you can’t shake the feeling of being directionless, seeking a therapist may be the answer. You’ll be in a safe space to express yourself while given the tools to cope. You’ll be able to set intentions and goals you can stick with. The path ahead will no longer be foggy but crystal clear.
- Quit procrastinating. Sitting down and doing nothing all day isn’t proactive. Finding direction requires action. Sitting idle means you’re purposefully doing so. Get moving by writing down small goals and then work to achieve them. Remember, you’re in control.
- Trust yourself. When in doubt, rely on your gut. When even the easiest decisions are difficult to make, listen to your instincts. They’ll steer you in the right direction. Turn your brain off and turn to your heart. Don’t overthink as it won’t help you.
- Reconnect with yourself. You know yourself better than anyone. Dig deep to recognize what you need most at this moment. Is it a break? A night out? Time to be creative? Whatever it is, work on obtaining it. Put yourself and your needs first. When you prioritize yourself, tend to your mind, body, and soul.
- Be the judge. When you try to live up to others’ expectations, you’ll most likely let them down. In life, you can’t live by someone else’s standards. It doesn’t put you on the path to success, only failure. Be your own judge and make decisions for yourself. Create personal values and take other peoples’ opinions with a grain of salt.
- Read books. You’re not the first person to feel directionless in life. Plenty of people have been in your shoes, experiencing all the same questions and tribulations. Finding self-help books at your local bookstore or thrift shop will have you realize you’re not alone. Plus, you’ll find actionable advice you can apply to make tolerating this experience better.
- Focus on what you’re good at. Leading with negativity means scrutinizing every aspect of our lives. Instead of focusing on the negative, focus on the positive. Understand there are things you’re good at. When in doubt, focus on them. Maybe you’re a good listener. Or you’re always there for your friends. No matter what it is, own it.
- Adopt healthy habits. Nurture your mind, body, and soul by implementing healthy habits. It doesn’t have to be a complete overhaul, just little changes you can stick with. Aim to cook more during the week than eat out. Squeeze in a walk by parking far away from the store entrance. Carve out time to meditate or listen to classical music.
- Change your environment. When we stay in one place for too long, it affects our sanity. It’s hard to get out of our own way. It’s hard to stop listening to those negative thoughts. We acknowledge all that’s going wrong instead of practicing gratitude. When this happens, take a trip. Get outdoors, reconnect with nature and yourself. Don’t worry about posting it on Instagram or answering texts or DMs. Use this time to get into a better mindset.
