The Oxford Dictionary definition of the word stuck is the "past particle of stick."The word stick is defined as "adhere or cling to something." Both of which I will not be referring to in this short article.
Instead I will be referring to the colloquial term of stuck as the feeling of extreme frustration when the progression of your life seems to be stagnant.
I think it's safe to say that we've all been there. When life seems to have this dullness to it, like in my case, colours seemed to be less vibrant and movement began to look like I had turned the slow motion filter on an iPhone to full effect.
Now the genesis of the problem took me longer than I would like to admit to, my brain just couldn't get out of this cyclical routine of "Wake, Work, Waste." I came up with these three W's when analysing why it was I felt stuck and how to un-stuck myself. Excuse the grammatical error. But that was my exact thought process. How do I edit and undo, but in real life?
But I'll take you back to the year 2009. Right in the heart of my teenage years or what some people would call "temporary insanity." I suddenly had this overwhelming emotion thrust upon me. This emotion of "stuck" where everything seemed to feel just slightly out of my reach and many; if not all decisions out of my hands. My dad used to have this saying, "If you're standing still, you're going backwards." Something that played on my mind constantly growing up. One, because I didn't fully understand what it meant and two, because the part I did understand was quite a dangerous motto to live by. Especially at that age.
Competitive in nature, as most teens are, I found myself thinking about which ones of my friends would fail and who would thrive. Solely based on their current attitude towards life. Immediately one or two came to my mind as absolutely failures and a few as guaranteed successful humans. When it came to me. Well, I just couldn't place me.
That thought of "Where do I fit of the systematic scale of life?" followed me into early twenties quite subtly. Before it erupted in the most explosive way ever in 2015 as a 22-year-old woman.
Expletives! How am I still here? I had never felt so unproductive, non-resourceful, and ill equipped in my life. Being someone who made bold choices as to not go to university and pursue a dream in London. I'd thought I'd have more to show by now. But I didn't, I was still "aspiring" when really I had wanted to be "achieving."
Now I can dwell in that moment of "stuck" for quite some time as I have stories upon stories to tell. But I really wanted to help any fellow sufferers with getting out of the rut they believe to be in.
Here are some helpful tips that saved my, for a lack of better word, sanity.
1. Reject Worry
The Oxford Dictionary definition of worry is to "feel or cause to feel anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems."
Potential Problems — things that have yet to occur were affecting me in the now. Something is very wrong with that sentence. When one creates worry, the body is then programmed to deal with the situation. However, when there is no immediate issue at hand that one can deal with a toxin is then released into the brain.
So yes, worry is physically affecting you. Worry is harmful. I had to learn that I cannot change things that have not occurred. I can only prepare and train myself to deal with obstacles as they appear.
2. Accomplishment Reminder
I now have a chalk board in my room with my achievements for the month. I don't know if it's scientifically proven, but we tend to remember when things go wrong or our failed attempts more vividly than our successes. Therefore having my monthly achievements before my eyes is a constant reminder that I am, in fact, not stuck, I am moving at my own pace!
3. Constant Redecoration
If you're like me, you get bored quickly. And I commend you for getting this far in the article. I've realised that a bit of change in furniture placement and decor every six months does a lot for my state of mind. Makes me feel refreshed. Gets me out of one way of thinking and into another. Sparks my inspiration and becomes my muse.
So those are my three top tips on how to get rid of the overwhelming emotion of feeling stuck. I'd love it if you could donate to a young playwright such as myself. And I hope it helps you out!
About the Creator
Valerie Isaiah
Playwright|Actor|Poet
...there's a story behind that and I'd like to tell you it...
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Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts6 days ago in Longevity
Many Schools Don’t Think Students Can Read Full Novels Anymore — And That’s a Tragedy
In classrooms across the world, a quiet but troubling shift is taking place. Many schools are scaling back or completely abandoning the teaching of full-length novels, replacing them with excerpts, summaries, or short-form texts. The reasoning often sounds practical: students lack the attention span, reading stamina, or motivation to finish long books. But this growing assumption carries a deeper cost. The decline of novel reading in schools is not just an educational adjustment — it is a cultural and intellectual tragedy. The Shrinking Role of the Novel For generations, novels have been central to education. They taught students empathy, critical thinking, moral reasoning, and the patience required to follow complex ideas over time. From classic literature to modern fiction, full novels allowed young readers to live inside other lives and perspectives. Today, however, many educators report that students struggle to complete even a few chapters. Digital distractions, social media, and fast-paced content have reshaped how young people consume information. In response, schools increasingly favor bite-sized reading materials that align with standardized testing and reduced classroom time. While this may appear efficient, it risks sacrificing depth for convenience. Why Reading Full Novels Still Matters Reading a novel is fundamentally different from reading short texts. A novel demands sustained attention, emotional investment, and intellectual endurance. These are not outdated skills — they are essential ones. When students read a full novel, they learn how to track themes across hundreds of pages, understand character development, and recognize cause-and-effect relationships in complex narratives. These abilities translate directly into real-world skills such as problem-solving, patience, and long-term focus. More importantly, novels cultivate empathy. Living inside a character’s thoughts over time helps students understand perspectives vastly different from their own. In an increasingly polarized world, this emotional literacy is invaluable. Lowering Expectations, Lowering Outcomes One of the most concerning aspects of abandoning novels is the message it sends to students: we don’t think you’re capable. When schools assume students cannot handle long-form reading, expectations are quietly lowered. History shows that when expectations drop, outcomes often follow. Students rise to challenges when given the tools and encouragement to do so. If reading stamina is weak, the solution should not be avoidance but gradual rebuilding — just as physical strength improves with practice. Removing novels from curricula denies students the chance to develop this crucial skill. The Role of Technology and Attention It is undeniable that digital culture has reshaped attention spans. Constant notifications, short videos, and algorithm-driven content train the brain to crave immediacy. But schools should act as a counterbalance to this trend, not surrender to it. Education has always required effort that goes against the grain of comfort. Learning mathematics is difficult. Writing essays is demanding. Reading novels is no different. Shielding students from difficulty does not prepare them for adulthood — it weakens their resilience. Engagement, Not Elimination The problem is not novels themselves, but how they are taught. Too often, novels are presented as rigid academic tasks rather than living stories. Educators who connect books to students’ lives, encourage discussion, and allow space for interpretation often see higher engagement. Modern novels, diverse voices, and relevant themes can reignite interest. Pairing reading with creative projects, debates, or multimedia exploration can make novels feel alive rather than burdensome. The answer is innovation in teaching, not retreat from literature. Equity and Cultural Loss There is also an equity issue at stake. Students from book-rich homes may continue reading novels independently, while those without access rely entirely on schools for literary exposure. Removing novels from classrooms widens the cultural gap, depriving many students of the shared experience of literature. Novels are not just educational tools — they are cultural touchstones. They shape language, values, and identity. Losing them from schools means losing a common intellectual heritage. What We Stand to Lose If students grow up believing they cannot read novels, the consequences extend far beyond school. Long-form reading strengthens concentration, memory, and analytical thinking — skills essential for higher education, professional life, and informed citizenship. A society that abandons deep reading risks becoming more reactive, less reflective, and more vulnerable to misinformation. The ability to sit with complexity, ambiguity, and nuance begins with reading books that do not offer instant gratification. Conclusion The belief that students can no longer read full novels is not just pessimistic — it is dangerous. It reflects a failure of imagination and resolve rather than a failure of students themselves. Young people are capable of far more than we often assume, especially when challenged with purpose and support. Abandoning novels may seem like a practical response to modern realities, but it comes at a steep cost. Preserving long-form reading in schools is not about nostalgia; it is about protecting the intellectual and emotional development of future generations. If schools give up on novels, we give up on depth, empathy, and sustained thought. That is not progress. That is a tragedy.
By Fiazahmedbrohi 6 days ago in Longevity
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