Feeling stuck? Here are a few ways to polish up and move forward.

Ask Yourself, “What Is My Intention?”:  Doing things just to do them is fun when we’re talking roller-coaster rides and hot showers.  For more serious interactions (personal and professional) it helps to sit down and think about what it is that you’re really trying to get out of an exchange or experience and how likely it is that you can get what you’re seeking.  You’ll not only be more selective as to how you spend your time (and who you spend it with) but more focused and thoughtful in your execution.

Dress Better: Tossing on a sweatshirt and stained jeans is OK–if you’re a hungover freshman.  The truth is this; people judge us based on our appearance, and not just a little bit.  70% of their impression is based on what we look like (20% is tone and 10% is what we say).  Translation: Press your shirt, comb your hair and wear stylish clothes that fit and cover you up appropriately.

Think Before You Speak (and Type): Though our reality TV/social media culture likes to devalue them, our words maintain a lot of power and can be used to motivate, harm or heal.  How we deliver our messages is often as important as the message itself, if not more so.  Deliver constructive criticism with a growl or excess verbiage and you might wind up hurting or offending the recipient thus leaving them too busy licking their wounds (and stewing in anger) to take in any wisdom you might have offered.  Those who delight in hearing gossip often like to repeat it, often with their own translations.  This can bring about a leading role in a drama you never meant to audition for. It’s equally important to think about how your words speak about you, your value system and character (in person, on Twitter, in text, on Facebook, etc.)

Get Knowledgeable: The more you know, the more strategic you can be.  The more strategic you are, the less time you waste and the better chance you have of success. Spend at least a half an hour a day working to learn something new.  Maybe you’re job-hunting and can use a lesson in resume building.  Perhaps you know more about celebrities than you do world leaders.  There’s a wealth of knowledge out there, go out and take your piece.

Don’t Waste Time Chasing a Loss: If you have tried and tried (and tried) again and it hasn’t worked out, let it go.  Sitting there frustrated while hoping that proverbial stock will rise will only bankrupt other areas of your life, leaving you worse off.

Get Organized:  I’m not just talking about closets here.  If your thoughts are scattered, start writing things down.  If you can’t seem to get from A to B on time, start planning out your day.  If all else fails, ask an organized pal to mentor you.

Let it Go:How many times have you gone back to something (a thought, a person, a memory) in order to gain “closure”? The next time you catch yourself looking for answers, remind yourself that bad things happen to good people, good people do bad things and life isn’t fair.  Case closed.

Have Faith That You’re Worth Pursuing: If they want to be with you, they’ll let you know.  If they are not letting you know, you’re free to flirt your booty off with those who can’t wait to court (and be courted by) you!

Get Out There: Whether it’s signing up for a cooking class, Tango lessons, meeting friends for cocktails, taking a walk in the park or volunteering, there’s plenty to do and never really an excuse to be “bored”.  The only people who get bored are boring people.

Make Comfort a Priority:  Listen to music you enjoy while getting ready for work, purchase pillows that make you want to rest your weary head, set aside time to lay on your couch and enjoy that delicious biography you’ve been aching to read.  Life is a series of experiences and moments, you might as well make yours as pleasant as you can–regardless of whether or not you’re sharing them with another person.