If You’re Feeling Career Stuck, This Is for You
Getting Unstuck While Working (or Job Hunting) Remotely
Hi Superstar,
"You are not lost, you are simply paused at the part of your story where the roots grow deepest. Just because you can’t see the change doesn’t mean it isn’t happening."
It’s officially the 6th month of the year 2025. Halfway through the year already. And maybe hearing that made your chest tighten just a little. Not because you’re lazy or unmotivated, but because you’re tired. Because you’re not where you thought you would be by now. Because some days, it feels like the world is moving on without you.
If you’ve been waking up, dragging yourself to your laptop, going through the motions, applying for jobs without much hope, or just sitting with that dull ache of “What am I doing with my life?”
Please know this: you are not alone.
This week, we will be talking about the version of stagnation no one likes to admit. The one where you’re technically employed, but emotionally drained.
The one where your LinkedIn says “open to work,” but your heart feels closed off.
The one where you have a to-do list, but no drive.
This is about that heavy in-between, the space where you feel stuck, confused, overlooked, and maybe even a little broken.
How Does Feeling Stuck Relate to Job Hunting and Working Remotely
In psychological terms, feeling stuck refers to a state of mental and emotional stagnation, when a person perceives little to no progress toward their goals, yet feels overwhelmed or unable to take meaningful action. It’s not just frustration; it’s a form of internal paralysis. A loop where you know something needs to change, but either don’t know how or don’t believe change is possible.
It’s deeper than having a bad day or being temporarily unmotivated. It’s persistent. It's consuming. And when left unaddressed, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, burnout, or even an identity crisis.
Now apply that to the job market or the remote workspace.
When you’re working remotely or job hunting from behind a screen, feeling stuck isn’t just a mood; it becomes your environment. There’s no external feedback loop to shift the energy. No office buzz. No celebratory team lunch to mark a small win. Just you, your thoughts, and your inbox.
Feeling stuck at work might look like this:
You’re in a role that doesn’t challenge or excite you anymore, but you’re afraid to leave.
You’re overlooked, under-mentored, or boxed into repetitive tasks with no clear growth.
Promotions seem like distant rumors, and feedback has become non-existent.
While feeling stuck while job searching might look like this:
You’ve applied to dozens (or hundreds) of roles and heard nothing back.
Every rejection chips away at your self-worth a little more.
You start to believe you’re not good enough, even if you objectively are.
And feeling stuck while doing it all remotely?
That’s the compounded version. You’re physically disconnected from the community and structure. You’re emotionally fatigued from forced productivity. And mentally, you’re spinning.
This is the psychological toll of stagnation in environments that weren’t built for human connection, but demand human results.
Over time, this cycle erodes your confidence, disrupts your sleep, alters your self-perception, and sometimes even leads to clinical depression, especially if left unspoken or unsupported.
A Real Guide to Moving Forward When You’re Stuck
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to feeling stuck. But there are gentle, intentional steps that can help you create space for clarity, momentum, and healing, especially in the quiet, isolating moments of remote work or job hunting.
1. Pause. Don’t Push Through. Reflect.
The natural instinct when you feel behind is to keep going harder, faster, busier. But often, the answer isn’t doing more, it’s doing less with more honesty. Take a pause. Ask yourself where the tension lives, what you're avoiding, and what you'd change if fear weren’t in the way. Write down these reflections without pressure to solve anything immediately. Clarity often begins in stillness.
2. Name the Cycle Out Loud.
What you don’t name becomes heavier to carry. Say it aloud: “I feel stuck.” “I feel lost.” “I don’t know what to do next.” Whether it’s to a friend, therapist, journal, or just yourself, naming your emotions interrupts shame and brings validation. It shifts the narrative from isolation to awareness, making space for compassion and action.
3. Shift the Metrics.
In remote work or job hunting, progress can feel invisible, and it’s easy to tie your worth to major outcomes like a job offer or promotion. Instead, redefine success using smaller, more sustainable metrics: showing up, resting when needed, or sending a single application without spiraling. Small, consistent actions build the momentum that big wins are made of.
4. Change Your Environment to Trigger Movement.
Physical surroundings deeply influence mental energy. You don’t need drastic changes, just enough to break the monotony. Try rearranging your desk, lighting a candle, switching playlists, or working from a new spot for the day. Even small shifts in your environment can disrupt stagnant patterns and signal to your brain that change is possible.
5. Reconnect to People and Purpose.
Isolation feeds stuckness. Connection breaks it. Reach out to someone who reminds you that you’re more than your to-do list. Join a group, comment on a post, or simply say, “I’m struggling too.” Alongside this, gently revisit your purpose: why you started, who you want to impact, and what future you’re building. Even if the vision feels far away, it’s still there, waiting for you.
6. Talk to a Professional (and Remove the Shame).
Sometimes, feeling stuck isn’t just emotional, it’s clinical. Depression, burnout, and anxiety are not failures; they are health issues that deserve care. Seeking help from a therapist or coach is not a weakness; it’s a strategy. You don’t have to untangle everything alone. Support gives language to what you’re feeling and tools to move forward with more strength.
7. Permit Yourself to Begin Again.
You don’t need to wait for the “perfect” moment to restart. Today can be your reset. You’re allowed to take a detour, to slow down, to change directions. Growth isn’t always linear, and success doesn’t have a single path. You are not behind. You are simply becoming, and that’s a beautiful thing to be.
Finally, if you take nothing else from this, let it be this: You are not stuck because you're weak, unmotivated, or behind. You're stuck because you’ve been carrying too much, navigating uncertainty, or holding your breath through seasons of silence and that’s not failure. That’s humanity.
Latest Worldwide Fully Remote Jobs Currently Hiring
At InclusivelyRemote, we curate remote job opportunities from companies that believe in healthy work culture, flexible schedules, and fair contracts, so you can grow your career without burning out. Here are some of the latest jobs on the site:
Resources to Help in Your Remote Career Journey
Join Our Public Community: We’ve created a public channel to empower you with voice-recorded mentorship, curated resources, remote job opportunities, and valuable insights. Link
Our Resume Templates: Each template is accompanied by a comprehensive customization guide to assist you in tailoring your own resumes. Additionally, editable versions of the templates are provided for your convenience. Link
Our Social Media Handles: For daily tips on navigating your remote work career or tips to corporate success, check out our social media handles here Link
Introduction to Remote Work: Access our free ebook on what remote work is and how you can get remote jobs, especially other platforms to check out. Link
The ABC of a Successful Remote Job Application: Access our free ebook on how to tailor your resume and apply to remote jobs. I have tailored a resume template you can use as well as cold mail messages in drafting your cover letter. Link
The Remote Salary Handbook: This is the first published guide on remote work. Having been a remote worker from Africa, I know the struggles of getting good pay, I have been paid less countless times. This ebook lays down tips as well as templates to ensure no one gets to be like me. It’s currently on sale and would go a long way in your career journey. Link
Rooting for you this Month🫶🏼💡!
Yours truly,
The InclusivelyRemote Team
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