Quick Help: 10 Ways to Stop Spinning and Solve Problems

The Challenge

Problems have a way of feeling unsolvable when you’re in the thick of them. Whether you’re trying to figure out how to confront a boundary-crossing coworker, resolve an ongoing issue with your roommate, or are stuck on whether to move across the country for a relationship, spinning your wheels without progress is exhausting.

The good news? Most problems aren't as complex as they feel in the moment, and getting unstuck is often more about finding a workable process than the perfect answer. These 10 strategies will help you cut through confusion, identify solutions, and solve problems instead of endlessly wrestling with them.

1. Dig to see what’s really going on. What seems like the problem is often just a symptom of something deeper. To get to the root, ask yourself: Why does this actually matter to me? What’s it really about? What feelings does it stir up? You might think the issue is not having time to exercise—but look closer and you may see you’re actually burned out and desperately need every spare minute to recover.
2. Gather (just enough) information. After pinpointing the problem, clarify its scope by asking: What will solving this problem require of me? What’s blocking me from taking action? What does ignoring the problem cost me? The goal isn’t exhaustive research or total certainty—it’s getting just clear enough to move forward with a reasonable plan.
3. Get outside perspectives. Ask people beyond your usual circle—a casual acquaintance, a colleague from a different team, people older or younger than you—for their take on your problem and how they’d handle it. They may see angles you haven’t considered and suggest solutions that wouldn’t occur to you.
4. Break big problems into small pieces. Your brain can’t process “fix my career” or “repair my relationship” but it can handle “research three interesting companies” or “have one honest conversation about what’s broken.” Divide overwhelming problems into manageable chunks, tackle them one at a time, and watch small wins build your confidence and reveal the next step.
5. Choose a “good enough” solution. Holding out for the perfect answer often means ending up with no answer at all. Most problems just need “workable” solutions that you can refine later—for example, if you’re struggling to build a fitness habit, start with a 10-minute daily walk or one strength session per week. Ask yourself: “What’s sufficient here?” Then pick that option and take action.
6. Write your “change story.” Put into words—on paper or screen—a narrative in three parts about what your choice will accomplish: Describe why this change is necessary, what will be different once you make it, and how you’ll feel afterward. Using vivid, optimistic language will give you a clear roadmap and help motivate you to act.
7. Separate your decision from the outcome. Focus on making the best choice you can with the information you have—not on controlling results. You can’t guarantee what will happen when you implement your solution, but you can make a clear, reasoned choice—which increases your chances of success and reduces regret.
8. Take action–now! Once you’ve decided on your solution, immediately take a small, deliberate step forward (send one email, make a five-minute call). Motion creates momentum, and momentum dissolves paralysis.
9. Anticipate—and tolerate—uncertainty. Problem-solving often comes with discomfort—but discomfort doesn’t necessarily mean something bad is happening, just that you’re in unfamiliar territory. Expect the worry and “what-ifs” to surface then proceed anyway. The uncomfortable feelings will eventually fade.
10. Know when to change course. Give your solution a fair try, but pay attention to whether it’s actually working. If it isn’t and you’re reluctant to pivot, ask yourself: Am I clinging to this approach because it will actually solve my problem—or because I want to be “right”? If it’s the latter, cut your losses and adjust your approach.

Where to Begin

Where you start depends on where you’re stuck. If you haven’t identified the real problem yet, begin with tip 1. Already know what you’re dealing with? Jump to gathering information (tip 2) or getting outside input (tip 3). Spinning on the decision itself? Focus on tips 5-7. The key is matching the strategy to your specific sticking point.

Resources

• Image: LightField Studios
• ASQ: Problem Solving
• Psychology Today:
  • Stuck Solving a Problem? 3 Steps to Get Unstuck
  • Struggling to Solve a Problem? 6 Ways to Tackle It
• Real Time Performance: To Improve Decision Making, Focus on the Process not the Outcome
• Shauyra Gahwalat: The Power of Embracing Uncertainty
• The New York Times: 5 Steps to Solve (Almost) Any Problem
• Thought Leaders LLC: How to Break Big Problems Into Small Ones
• Travco Behavioral Health: Why (and How) to Make “Accepting Uncertainty” Your Superpower

For deeper insight into problem-solving, decision-making, and turning obstacles into opportunities, explore Shortform’s guides to: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, and The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday.