why are we all feeling so stuck?
If you've ever found yourself staring at your laptop, wondering how your career ended up here – you’re not alone. This week on Work Is Weird Now, we welcomed mindset and business coach Nicola Charlotte to talk about why so many of us feel stuck in our work lives, and more importantly, what we can do about it.
Nicola helps high-achieving women navigate career crossroads, whether they’re climbing the ladder, starting something new, or just trying to rediscover some energy in the roles they already have. She joined hosts Alice and Dan to explore a concept that’s everywhere right now: The Great Detachment. Unlike the Great Resignation, this shift isn’t about people leaving their jobs – it’s about people staying, but mentally checking out.
So what’s really going on? And how do we move forward when we’re stuck?
Invisible Scripts, Real Impact
According to Nicola, many people operate under what she calls “invisible scripts” – deeply held beliefs like:
“It’s too late to change careers.”
“Success means long hours.”
“People like me don’t do that.”
These beliefs, often unconscious, create barriers to growth. They keep us stuck not because we lack skills or opportunities, but because we’ve quietly convinced ourselves those paths aren’t for us.
Stuck Doesn’t Always Mean “Leave Your Job”
Feeling stuck doesn’t always mean you need to pivot into a brand-new career. Nicola works with many clients who don’t want to quit their corporate jobs. Instead, they’re looking to reignite energy where they are.
Her advice? Start by taking stock:
What in your day-to-day energizes you?
What drains you?
What can you change or negotiate?
From there, she helps clients explore options: Is it time to pursue a side hustle? Adjust your role internally? Set better boundaries?
A Note for Midlifers Feeling the Pressure
Alice opened up about her own situation: running a successful business, but seeing the writing on the wall with AI, and feeling squeezed by both financial responsibility and limited career runway. It's a feeling many mid-career professionals will recognize: too young to settle, too old to start over.
Nicola’s advice: Zoom out. “What are your options? What’s actually important to you right now—financial stability, flexibility, impact?” Often, just naming those priorities helps people see a way forward that’s aligned with the life they actually want, not just the one they think they should want.
Also: it doesn’t have to be forever. “Think 12–24 months, not 10 years,” she says. “Make decisions from the future version of you, not the scared version of you today.”
Comparison Is the Thief of Progress
Another big blocker? The scroll. Social media fuels comparison, which leads to self-doubt and paralysis. Nicola encourages her clients to reframe success: focus on personal growth, not other people’s highlight reels.
And get out of the house. Hybrid work has made many people feel isolated from leadership, colleagues, and opportunity. Nicola sees this lack of connection as a major contributor to the stuckness epidemic. “Working from home is easy. Comfortable. But if you want change, you have to push yourself to connect, to be in the room, to rebuild that muscle.”
Fulfillment vs. Purpose – Do You Need Both?
Nicola distinguishes between fulfillment and purpose, but acknowledges the lines often blur. A job might not change the world, but it might energize you, challenge you, or make you feel valued. That’s fulfillment. Purpose might be about impact, mission, or legacy. You don’t always need both – but understanding which one you’re craving helps you make better decisions.
The Takeaway: You Always Have a Choice
There are real pressures in the world right now: AI, inflation, family responsibilities, identity shifts. But there’s also agency. There are options. And often, the first step isn’t quitting your job or launching a startup. It’s carving out space to reflect, reframe, and reconnect—with your energy, your values, and yourself.
Listen to the full episode:
Search Work Is Weird Now wherever you get your podcasts.
Connect with Nicola:
Instagram: @nicolacharlottecoaching
LinkedIn: Nicola Charlotte
Podcast: It’s Not Luck