Most of us know the feeling — life ticking along nicely, but with that nagging sense that something’s missing. Maybe it’s work. Maybe it’s routine. Maybe it’s just the weight of doing the same thing every day.
According to new research by electric car brand Leapmotor, eight in ten Brits admit they feel stuck in a rut but don’t know how to break out of it. Fear, money worries and even age are keeping people from making changes they know would make them happier.
Why we’re feeling stuck
The study of 2,000 adults found a third feel anxious about taking a leap into something new, whether that’s changing jobs, moving to a different city, trying a solo trip, or even switching to an electric car (ah, there’s the Leapmotor hook!)
For many, it’s not a lack of desire. It’s the barriers that pile up in front of it. Almost half said financial worries hold them back, while two in five admitted that anxiety makes change feel overwhelming.
There’s also a clear gender divide: women are more likely to feel anxious or financially constrained, while men are more likely to say they “just can’t be bothered” to make a change — perhaps another sign of how quietly burnout and low mood can creep in.
Taking a leap one step at a time
To help people get unstuck, Leapmotor has teamed up with life coach Dior Bediako to create the Take a Leap Journal. This free downloadable guide
offers ten practical tips to overcome fear, get motivated and make meaningful change feel achievable.
“Fear of the unknown, money worries and lack of confidence are some of the biggest reasons people hold back,” says Bediako. “But in most cases, the idea of change feels scarier than the reality.”
The guide encourages small, realistic steps, building habits and momentum rather than trying to reinvent everything overnight. Think less ‘quit your job and move to Bali,’ and more ‘start that side project you’ve been talking about for years.’
What’s holding us back
The research paints a revealing picture of modern life. 74% see age as a barrier to trying something new, with 60 cited as the point where many feel ‘too old’, while 37% of people don’t make changes because they’re worried about cost. For 34%, the biggest block is a lack motivation.
Despite that, there’s still plenty of hope. 71% say they’d like to try something new, and more than half admit they’ve regretted not doing so in the past. For some, it’s a career move they didn’t make. For others, it’s the trip they never booked or the relationship they didn’t end.
And when people do take a leap? Half say they feel instantly better, and almost as many say they feel re-energised.
How to start moving again
If you’ve been feeling stuck, Bediako’s advice — and the Take a Leap Journal itself — is about removing pressure. You don’t have to transform your life overnight; you just have to start moving.
That could mean finally picking up a new hobby, reaching out to make new friends, or doing something brave like booking a solo trip or switching to an EV. The point is momentum, not perfection.
As Leapmotor UK managing director Damien Dally puts it: “There are millions of Brits who want to take a leap, but there are a multitude of reasons holding them back. We want to make change feel less daunting and more achievable.”
It’s a message that hits home, because whether it’s your job, your mindset, or just the way you spend your weekends, sometimes the hardest part of change is convincing yourself to take that first small step.
He is the founder of Huff Media, publisher of Professional Pickup, Professional Van, Average Janes, Average Joes, and CALIBRE. His work focuses primarily on light commercial vehicles, pickups, and real-world vehicle use, with much of his time spent on manufacturer launches, industry events, and long-term vehicle testing.