Real data on where people feel stuck — and what helps them move forward.
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87%
Felt Stuck in the Last Three Months
The vast majority of U.S. and Canadian respondents reported experiencing feeling stuck in the last three months, highlighting how universal this challenge is.
Wilson Confidence Interval: ±3.5 p.p.
Where People Feel Stuck Most
Respondents who indicated that they felt stuck were asked which areas of their lives they felt stuck in and could select multiple options. The three most commonly selected areas are below.
Wilson Confidence Intervals: Career: ±5.4 p.p., Finances: ±5.5 p.p., Health: ±5.5 p.p.
The Real Impact: More Than Just a Feeling
Feeling stuck isn't just frustrating; it has tangible effects on daily life and well-being. The survey reveals a significant emotional toll for those affected.
Wilson Confidence Intervals: Stress: ±5.0 p.p., Motivation: ±5.2 p.p., Overwhelm: ±5.5 p.p., Mood: ±5.5 p.p.
72%
Stuck in Multiple Life Areas
For many, feeling stuck isn't isolated. It often spans across multiple aspects of life, creating a complex challenge.
Wilson Confidence Interval: ±5.0 p.p.
34%
Stuck for 6+ Months
Feeling stuck isn't always a fleeting experience. A notable portion of respondents reported feeling stuck for 6 months or more, indicating a need for sustained support.
Wilson Confidence Interval: ±4.9 p.p.
64%
Currently Feeling Stuck
At the time of response, nearly two-thirds of participants were still grappling with feeling stuck, underscoring its ongoing prevalence.
Wilson Confidence Interval: ±4.9 p.p.
What Helps People Get Unstuck?
Participants highlighted three options when asked:
"What kinds of support help you the most to get unstuck?"
Conversation
"Someone to talk to who can help think through challenges."
Clarity
"Clarity on why I feel stuck"
New Ideas
"Ideas that I haven’t thought of or wasn’t aware of before."
Across the Border: U.S. vs. Canada Insights
While the experience of feeling stuck is common for participants in both countries, the Q2 survey revealed some distinct differences, particularly in how many respondents are currently stuck and how long they have felt stuck.
U.S. vs. Canada: Currently Feeling Stuck
At the time of the survey, many participants in both countries were still feeling stuck. However, a higher proportion of respondents living in Canada reported currently being stuck compared to those in the U.S.
Wilson Confidence Interval: Canada: ±6.8 p.p., U.S.: ±6.5 p.p.
U.S. vs. Canada: Stuck for 6+ Months
Feeling stuck isn’t always short-term. A notable number of participants in both countries said they had felt stuck for six months or longer, with a higher percentage in Canada.
Wilson Confidence Interval: Canada: ±8.4 p.p., U.S.: ±5.6 p.p.
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Let's Discuss the Deeper Stories: Media Inquiries & Interviews
Interested in a deeper dive into our survey findings?
Journalists, media professionals, and event organizers are welcome to get in touch for interviews, keynotes, or presentations about the data, what it reveals, and the mindset engineering approach to getting unstuck.
Methodology
This inaugural Q2 2025 "State of Feeling Stuck" survey was conducted with 350 self-selected respondents across the United States and Canada. Respondents were recruited via Prolific, a reputable online platform for survey research, which enables access to diverse participants across the U.S. and Canada.
Important Note on Confidence Intervals: For the overall survey findings (based on 350 respondents), with a 95% confidence level using the Wilson Interval method, the margin of error is approximately ±3.5 percentage points (p.p.). This means, for example, our finding that 87% of respondents felt stuck recently has a 95% confidence interval of 83% to 90%. All confidence intervals are indicated under the data.
“p.p.” stands for percentage points. The abbreviation is used to save space.
When we analyze smaller groups within the survey (e.g., only Canadian respondents, or only those who reported feeling stuck), the sample size for that specific analysis is smaller. As a result, the margin of error for those specific subgroup findings will be larger than the overall survey's margin of error. These subgroup 95% confidence intervals are also noted beneath the relevant data.