SIGNS YOU ARE ON AUTOPILOT
Living on autopilot means the opposite of being mindful. If you are on autopilot, you are basically letting your brain’s automatic function kick in for daily habits, thought processes, and decision-making. That means you can easily find yourself missing parts of your life, chances to learn or grow and keep running in circles.
YOU DO THINGS WITHOUT THINKING
There are many tasks that we all complete each day that does not necessarily require much thought, but if you are living on autopilot, you might be doing these things without even knowing why, or actually experiencing them. For example, how often do you do daily life chores without even thinking about what you are doing? Living on autopilot means we miss out on the opportunity to live in the moment & listen to what our body really needs. Maybe you do not actually need a cup of coffee this morning, but you make it anyway because you are not in control.
WHAT TO DO? Try to notice the small daily tasks you complete and be present throughout the process. Ask yourself what you need every morning.
YOU TEND TO OVER-COMMIT
Living on autopilot means we do not take time to consider the consequences of saying YES to a social event, extra workload, or making a commitment to a friend or family. Before you realize it you have already got a calendar full of things you do not want to do, because your default setting is to say YES.
WHAT TO DO? Take a moment to think before agreeing to anything. Do not be scared to say ‘let me check my schedule and get back to you tomorrow’ and take your time to decide whether you really want to, or have the time to, say YES.
YOU FORGET HOW WAS YOUR DAY!
Did you ever complete a task and have no memory of how you got there? Ever been asked ‘how was your day’ and not been able to remember any specific parts of it? Hello, autopilot! When we give up control of our routine to the automatic functions of the brain we switch off from the details and let our mind wander. This means we end up missing huge parts of our day that might actually matter, joy or interaction, but instead disappear into a brain fog.
WHAT TO DO? Try to be mindful of your tasks especially you did not notice before, or which bring you joy and appreciate beauty of life!
YOU WASTE TIME
Letting your mind wander or allowing your mind to distract from mundane or difficult tasks is completely normal, but also a sign you are allowing it to take control. The human mind hates inconvenience and will search for any distraction to remove the sensation. If you notice you are scrolling through social media, this is a sign you are on autopilot. This may lead to hours of wasted time, when you could have been working on something very meaningful, learning something new, reading an amazing book or simply connecting with a friend.
WHAT TO DO? Move your social media apps to a tough place to reach on your phone, and notice how many times you go to open them without even thinking. Take a pause each time and notice what you are trying to distract yourself from.
YOU ARE FEELING LIKE YOU ARE JUST EXISTING RATHER THAN LIVING
When the brain is on autopilot you do not control of your life choices. You rarely take up new tasks, challenge yourself or search for new opportunities. As a result, it may feel like life is just passing you by and you get a feeling that you are always unaware of your surroundings. Maybe you have a deeper sense that there must be something more to it, or you have a craving for a sense of purpose?
WHAT TO DO? Set yourself a challenge to try one new thing every month. It can be anything like a new recipe, going to gym, taking up a hobby, or even introducing yourself to new people. It does not matter how long you keep doing new things, just keep trying something new whenever things start getting stagnant.
AUTHOR’S POV:
Practicing mindfulness and meditation is proven to help alleviate the symptoms of disconnect and depression which come from living on autopilot and enable you to lead a lighter, more positive and fulfilled life.
