MGMA Insights: Britt Frank on breaking free from being stuck

Britt Frank is a licensed neurotherapist and author of The Science of Stuck. She joins host Daniel Williams on the MGMA Insights Podcast to discuss why we get stuck and how our brains process decision-making while offering practical steps to regain momentum. She explains the neuroscience behind motivation, the power of small actions, and why overanalyzing keeps us in loops of inaction. Frank will also be a main stage keynote speaker at the upcoming MGMA Operations Conference in Las Vegas (March 2-4, 2025), where she will share deeper insights into how healthcare professionals can overcome burnout, decision fatigue, and mental roadblocks.

Key Takeaways:

1. What does it mean to be stuck?
   • Being stuck means knowing logically what you need to do but feeling unable to act.
   • It's not about external factors (disasters, circumstances) but the gap between intention and action.
2. Overthinking and decision paralysis
   • The brain defaults to fight, flight, or freeze, making decision-making harder.
   • More choices don’t always create freedom—they often create stress and stagnation. "Often, the more choices we have, the more stuck we feel," Frank highlights. "The opposite of stuck is not insight. The opposite of stuck is action."
3. Micro Yeses: Small actions lead to momentum
   • Instead of focusing on big changes, break them into tiny, manageable steps.
   • Example: Instead of committing to a full workout, put your sneakers by the door—this builds momentum.
4. Why Motivation is Overrated
   • Waiting for motivation leads to inaction—instead, action creates motivation. As Frank explains, "This idea that you have to feel something to do something is completely antithetical to the big goals that we have."
   • Momentum, not motivation, is the key to breaking out of stuckness. 
5. How Our Brains Keep Us in Loops
   • The brain is wired for pattern recognition and energy conservation, which can keep us stuck in overthinking. "Our brains are not wired for happiness. They’re wired for survival," Frank says.
   • Constantly asking “Why?” keeps us in analysis paralysis—instead, ask “What’s the next small step?”
6. The Role of Digital Detox and Mindful Awareness
   • Our brains weren’t designed to process constant digital stimulation.
   • Taking device-free walks, reading a book, or engaging in a non-digital activity can help reset focus. "Going outside where there are actual living, breathing, biological things—since we are also a living, breathing, biological being—is good for us," Frank says. 

Practical Strategies to Get Unstuck

• Use Micro Yeses: Take the smallest possible step toward a goal to generate momentum.
• Reframe the Narrative: Instead of asking “Why am I stuck?” ask “What small step can I take next?”
• Move Your Body: Physical movement shifts the brain from fight-flight-freeze into action mode.
• Reduce Digital Overload: Set screen-free times, use grayscale mode, or take breaks from constant notifications.
• Practice External Meditation: If traditional meditation is difficult, engage in silent walks or mindful observation instead.

Resources & Links:

• MGMA Operations Conference (March 2-4, 2025, Las Vegas) – Register Here
• Britt Frank on the web - Visit Here
• Britt Frank’s Book: The Science of Stuck – Get the Book
• James Clear’s Atomic Habits – Learn More