Shannon Odell: Why you feel stuck — and how to get motivated

Why you feel stuck — and how to get motivated

Many of us have experienced feeling stuck. People often report feeling highly motivated at the start and end of a project, but the middle can feel untethered. It can happen when tackling something as simple as a term paper or as monumental as social inequality or the climate crisis. So, are there ways to get unstuck? Shannon Odell digs into the psychology of overcoming your motivational obstacles. [Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Stephen LaRosa].

Motivation often fades in the middle of a journey, whether it's a personal project or tackling massive issues like climate change. Psychologists call this the 'stuck in the middle' effect, where attention shifts from progress made to daunting goals ahead. Over half of young people surveyed globally believe humanity is doomed, yet history shows that steady, incremental actions fuel real change. Finding meaning in small milestones and joining with others helps build the confidence and momentum needed to keep moving forward.