I Tried Getting Unstuck with Duct Tape - Turns Out, Mindset Works Better

So you're feeling stuck? Like you're mentally wading through porridge with no spoon? Been there, done that.

This week, I’m sharing how a simple mindset reboot can turn that "meh" feeling into serious momentum - and why no amount of duct tape fixes self-doubt like clarity does.

The Great Stuckness of 2022 (Or, That Time I Nearly Duct-Taped My Laptop)

So imagine this: I’m sitting at my computer, surrounded by a full office wall of colour-coded sticky notes, a huge mug of cold coffee, and a general sense of “what am I even doing with my life?”.

I had tasks. I had dreams and goals. I had a to-do list so long it really did need its own postcode. But I wasn’t doing anything productive that would put me where I wanted to be. I was scrolling, looking at other people's success (which if you know me, you know that I always tell people not to do this), and was just generally procrastinating. I was working in a niche that no longer excited me. I took to constantly rearranging my fridge and kitchen cupboards as though that was going to magically transform my life.

And then it happened - I genuinely considered duct-taping my planner to my forehead in a desperate attempt to “force” myself into action. Spoiler: I didn’t. Primarily because I couldn’t find the roll, but also because I realised something important…

The problem wasn’t my schedule. Or my planner. Or my to-do list.

It was my mindset.

Mindset: The Non-Sticky Kind of Superglue

Let’s talk about mindset for a moment - the real reason you’re stuck, spinning, or standing still. I talk about mindset a lot. It ends up in a lot of my courses, coaching programmes, and my membership. It is huge!

Now, when you're in a mental fog, you don't need more tools. You don't need a fancier computer, a productivity app, or - dare I say it - another journal with gold foil quotes and tabs for “manifesting.” (Guilty.)

You need clarity.

You need to ask: Where am I? Why am I here? What’s actually keeping me stuck?

Because here’s the thing: feeling stuck isn’t just about a lack of direction. It’s a symptom of something deeper - lack of direction, fear, perfectionism, burnout, overwhelm, self-doubt, or simply being out of alignment with your future self.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
— Wayne Dyer

But Seriously, Why Duct Tape?

Duct tape is the perfect analogy because it is the ultimate "I’ll fix this now" tool.

Loose shelf? Duct tape. Wobbly charger? Duct tape. Stick your planner to your head? Duct Tape. Well, probably not... but I'm sure someone will have tried....

But when it comes to your mindset - your inner world, your beliefs, your thought patterns - duct tape is just cosmetic. It covers the problem, masks it for a while and holds it place from an outwardly perspective - but it doesn’t solve it.

You might feel a temporary high from a new all-the-rage productivity hack, a new morning routine, or even sheer panic-fuelled action - but if your mindset hasn’t shifted, you’ll end up right back in Stucksville.

3 Signs You’re Duct-Taping Your Life Instead of Mindset-Shifting

Let’s get brutally honest for a sec. You might be duct-taping your life if:

1. You keep starting new things... and abandoning them within days. (Shiny Object Syndrome is real, my friend.)

2. You have a colour-coded life plan... but zero motivation to open the doc. (My amazing sticky note wall)

3. You tell yourself, “I just need to try harder.” (Pro tip: That inner voice is a liar.)

The truth? You don’t need to try harder. You need to get honest, curious, and a little bit brave.

So, What Actually Works?

Drumroll please...

MINDSET WORK. Not sexy. Not quick-fix. But it works.

Here’s how I finally unclogged my brain-drain and stepped into momentum:

1. I Got Ridiculously Clear on My Future Self

Instead of thinking about what I should do, I asked myself "what do I want to become?"

Not in five years. Not “one day.” But the version of me who already feels focused, clear, confident, and in flow.

What does she think like? What does she believe about herself? What does she not waste time worrying about? What does she think about how I am operating now?

When you get clear on your future self, decisions stop feeling like a Mensa test. You stop trying to fix your 'stuckness' with non-productive external stuff - and you start embodying the person who simply isn’t stuck anymore. You conduct yourself as if you are already there, already have the answers, and are already living up to the potential of your future-self.

“You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”
— Nightbirde

2. I Called Out the Crappy Narrator in My Head

You know the one. The voice that says “You’ll never figure this out”, “You’re not cut out for this”, “You should have it together by now”, "Success isn't for people like me".

That voice isn’t truth. It’s just a very dramatic internal narrator who’s been working overtime. It is tired out and trying to keep you safe.

I started noticing those thoughts, challenging them, and replacing them with better ones - ones that aligned with the version of me I’m stepping into. And that is what you need to do! Step into the person you want to be. Start this now. Habits take 21 days to form. Live like your future-self for 21 days, and the habit should stick. You realise you can do this and you become unstoppable. Your mindset becomes unstuck!

“Don’t believe everything you think.” — Probably your future self

3. I Started Before I Felt Ready

This one is key. Most people wait to feel clear before they move. Done and started is better than perfect. Nothing is perfect. Stop waiting for the perfect time to improve your mindset and move forwards with your dreams and goals.

You need to understand this - clarity doesn’t come from thinking - it comes from doing.
One tiny, scrappy, imperfect action at a time. When you start doing, you start realising what you don't need, what you need, and what you want.

I stopped planning the perfect launches for my coaching business, stopped the no-longer-serving-me perfect morning routine, the perfect life overhaul. I started doing tiny things that felt aligned to me and what I wanted. I didn’t need to overhaul everything. I just needed to start with one step - then another. This works! Your mind adjusts to the fact you can make changes, and it does work - you learn to ignore the nagging voices that give you doubt.

4. I Practiced Ridiculous Amounts of Self-Compassion

You can’t shame yourself into growth. Trust me, I tried. You end up making yourself feel worse because you haven't started and you should be so much further on than you are.

Growth happens when you feel safe enough to evolve. When your inner voice cheers you on instead of nagging you into action. This doesn't mean it's easy or not scary, but when you practice self-compassion, you know you are good enough, you can do it, and you do absolutely deserve it.

Every time I took a step or made a change - even a tiny one - I celebrated it. Not in a cheesy way. In a “hey, look at you go” pat on the back kind of way. (Because if you can clap for toddlers taking their first steps, you can clap for yourself starting a new productive habit.)

Did you know that your self-awareness is also critical when working on your mindset? Read our post here on how to master your self-awareness!

Getting Unstuck Isn’t About Doing More. It’s About Thinking Differently.

Once I shifted my focus from duct-taping my to-do list to rewiring my thoughts, everything started to change:

• I stopped listening to my self-doubt.

• I started following through and completing the things that mattered and moved me forwards.

• I felt proud of my progress - even when it was messy and no-one else could see any change. I knew it was there!

No productivity system could have done that for me. No new planner. No “10x your hustle” YouTube video. Just a whole lot of mindset work, self-belief, honesty, and future-self focus.

Try This Mini Mindset Reboot

If you’re stuck right now, here’s a quick mindset reset you can do in 10 minutes or less:

1. Write a letter from your future self—the one who is already clear, confident, and focused. What does she want you to know today?

2. List three beliefs you’re holding that might be keeping you stuck. Challenge them. Ask, “What else could be true?”

3. Take one small action - anything at all - that the future-you would be proud of.

That’s it. That’s the start of momentum.

Final Thoughts: Mindset Over Muscle (and Definitely Over Duct Tape)

If you’re feeling stuck, you don’t need to fight your way out with force and frustration. You just need to think like the version of you who’s already free. Think about how they got free and what they would say to you.

Your future-self is in there, waiting to burst out. Waiting for you to stop duct-taping the cracks and start building something stronger, clearer, and more aligned.

You don’t need fixing. You don’t need forcing. You just need you—the future you who’s already got this.

Now rip that metaphorical duct tape off - get doing and move onwards and upwards!

Want help stepping into your future self with confidence and clarity?
Come join me inside our Transformation Lounge membership, where we ditch the stuckness and start creating real momentum, together. We've got this!