21 Actions to Help You Get Out of a Funk

Five years ago, I lost my job and felt completely stuck. Fast forward to today, I’m living a life I once dreamt of—running my own business, speaking on global stages, and intentionally building networks that empower me. How did I get here? By taking small, consistent actions every day, shifting my mindset, embracing opportunities, and making choices that aligned with my goals and values.

If you're feeling stuck or tired, here are 21 practical steps that helped me transform my life—and they could help you do the same:

Write down your skills and strengths.
Note what your ideal day looks like—and what you don’t want.
Invest in a hobby (not for profit).
Reach out and have conversations with people who inspire you (clear ask).
Diversify your TV shows, podcasts, and books.
Put your hand up and say yes.
Set boundaries with others.
Create accountability checks for yourself.
Skill swap for feedback and experience.
Volunteer your time.
Explore a new location.
Learn from people smarter than you.
Shift your mindset to know you deserve change.
Create a 12-month plan (vision) and work backwards (milestones).
Schedule time to tackle laborious tasks that set the foundation.
Mute or block social accounts that don’t serve you or make you feel lesser.
Enjoy the process of figuring it out.
Build your network intentionally.
Ask for help—but not favours.
Actively reach out to get involved.
Create a brag bank in Excel of actions, results, facts, and feelings.

Takeaway

These 21 actions are not a magic fix but a roadmap to help you shift your mindset, build your network, and rediscover purpose. It’s not about overnight transformation but about steady steps that create lasting change.

Key Piece of Advice

The key is consistency. Whether it’s blocking out time for self-reflection, reaching out to new connections, or setting boundaries, the small actions you take today will compound into significant results over time. Start with one step, and build from there.

So What?

If I could go from feeling stuck to living my dream life, you can too. These actions empowered me to rewrite my career story and design a life I love. Now it’s your turn. Which of these actions will you start with?

Sonya Barlow is an award-winning entrepreneur, presenter and author with over 100K followers. She hosts her self-titled YouTube show "The Sonya Barlow Show", authored the business book"Unprepared to Entrepreneur" and runs a business inclusion consultancy and networking app the "LMF Network". You can work with Sonya for campaigns, content and conversation. Connect via email - Hello@SonyaBarlow.Co.Uk.