Getting Unstuck: The Gentle Science of Motion
I’ll admit it. I’ve noticed my own version of inertia creeping in lately.
With the craziness of the world, it’s easy to scroll longer than intended. We look for good news or something that might make us feel better. The next thing we know, an hour or two has gone by, and we’re in the same place we started.
Only now, we feel more drained than before.
What we’re actually looking for in those moments isn’t information or answers.
It’s a change in state. We want to feel lighter, warmer, and more alive than we did a moment ago.
Scrolling rarely delivers that.
What we often label as laziness is usually something else entirely.
It’s inertia. A natural, predictable response of a system that’s been still too long.
Once We’re Still, We Tend to Stay Still
Long before phones, news cycles, or wellness trends, Isaac Newton articulated a simple truth:
A body at rest tends to stay at rest.
A body in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an external force.
Newton was describing objects. But the same principle quietly governs habits, energy, and momentum in everyday life.
Starting is hard.
Continuing is easier.
That’s not a character flaw or a mindset issue.
It’s inertia.
How Inertia Shows Up in Real Life
For some of us, inertia shows up as scrolling.
For others, it’s cold weather convincing us that the couch and slippers are the safest option.
Sometimes it sounds like:
I’m achy.
I’m tired.
I’m getting older.
I’ll start when I feel better.
Sometimes it looks like staying busy, over-planning, or waiting for motivation to arrive.
Different behaviors. Same underlying force.
Why Our Bodies Do This
Our biology follows many of the same rules as physics.
When the nervous system senses stress, fatigue, uncertainty, or overload, it naturally shifts into conservation.
Stillness feels safer. Movement can feel optional.
This is our body’s protective response.
Here’s an important piece many of us miss:
Our brains are not programmed to think our way out of inertia.
A system that’s been still for a while doesn’t improve through more thinking.
It improves when things begin to circulate again.
When we move together, our state shifts. Motivation follows.
When we move together, our state shifts—and motivation follows.
How Momentum Starts
Sometimes simply understanding what’s happening in our bodies is enough to interrupt a stuck loop, but when we’re in a deeper funk, momentum usually comes from intentional action, not awareness alone.
Feeling stuck rarely resolves on its own.
It eases when we engage with it.
Here are a few immediate, low-pressure ways to begin.
Four Simple Ways to Get Unstuck
Warmth first
Cold stiffens bodies and decisions. Add layers, tea, or a hot shower before deciding anything.
Stand, don’t plan
No agenda. No workout. Stand up. Change rooms. Shift weight.
Move one part
When the whole body feels like too much, go smaller. Roll shoulders. Circle ankles. Shake hands.
One song
Not a class. Not a commitment. Move for one song. Stop if you want.
When inertia runs deeper, reflection paired with action can help.
These questions, shared by Mel Robbins, offer a simple reset.
Whether the person is you or someone you care about, sit down and ask:
- Do we actually want to get out of the funk? Real change requires willingness.
- Can we think of a time when we felt good about our lives?
- What did our routine look like then?
- What does it look like now?
- Compare the two. The contrast is often the clue.
Getting started often means returning to what once helped us feel grounded, capable, and alive.
In a Nutshell
Getting unstuck isn’t about doing more.
It’s about shifting state.
Sometimes one small interruption is enough to tip the system back into motion, especially when we move together.
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