Life can sometimes feel like a cycle of going through the motions: waking up, working, eating, sleeping, and then repeating the same routine the next day. While routine isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there’s a big difference between maintaining healthy habits and simply “getting by.” Often, we don’t realize we’re settling until we pause to reflect on our choices and the life we’re building.

If you suspect you’re not living up to your full potential, consider these signs that you may be just getting by—and what you can do to change course.

1. You Feel Stuck, but Don’t Know Why

A persistent feeling of being stuck often signals that you’re not fully engaged with your life. You may not feel deeply unhappy, but you also don’t feel particularly excited or motivated. It’s a sense that, while nothing is catastrophically wrong, something essential is missing.

This feeling is often a cue to reexamine your goals, passions, and priorities. When you notice this sign, it’s time to ask yourself what truly matters and whether your current path reflects those values.

2. Your Goals Are Always “Someday” Goals

If your dreams and ambitions always live in the future—“I’ll start next year” or “Someday I’ll have time for that”—it’s a red flag that you’re just coasting. While it’s natural to have long-term aspirations, if you’re constantly deferring action, you may be avoiding the effort, risk, or change required to pursue them.

The solution? Break your “someday” goals into smaller, actionable steps you can take now. Each small step will help you build momentum and bring your dreams into the present.

3. You Don’t Challenge Yourself Anymore

Getting by often means staying in your comfort zone. If you rarely feel challenged—at work, in relationships, or in personal growth—it’s a sign you’ve settled for what feels easy rather than striving for what’s truly rewarding.

Growth comes from stepping out of that comfort zone, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Start by setting one new challenge for yourself each month, whether it’s learning a new skill, taking on a more difficult project, or saying “yes” to an opportunity you’d typically avoid.

4. You Prioritize “Keeping Busy” Over Finding Fulfillment

It’s easy to fill your calendar with activities that make you feel productive, but if those activities don’t contribute to your happiness or goals, they’re just distractions. Being busy isn’t the same as being fulfilled. If you find yourself constantly rushing from one thing to the next without a sense of purpose or accomplishment, it’s worth reassessing how you spend your time.

Try identifying the activities and commitments that genuinely add value to your life, and let go of the ones that don’t. This will help you shift from “staying busy” to actively building a more meaningful life.

5. You Rely on External Validation

If you need constant praise, promotions, or external rewards to feel good about your life, it may indicate that you’re not finding intrinsic satisfaction in what you do. When you’re simply getting by, you rely on these external markers because your internal sense of purpose feels shaky.

Focus on cultivating activities, projects, or relationships that bring you joy and fulfillment on their own. When you find meaning within yourself, you’ll rely less on external validation and more on your internal sense of accomplishment.

Take the First Step Toward More

If you recognize these signs in your life, it’s not a reason to feel discouraged—it’s an opportunity. Awareness is the first step toward meaningful change. By identifying where you’re just getting by, you can start making intentional choices that move you toward a richer, more fulfilling life.