Sometimes I feel like I’m running on autopilot.

Besides driving, riding a bicycle, or taking a shower, some things don’t require mental automation. Yet, we do them without really thinking and end up feeling like a failure.

Unfortunately, our actions and behaviors aren’t always intentional, and the proof is how we interact in our closest relationships.

We keep making (false) assumptions about those we love and project our own feelings and perspectives onto them. We live on autopilot with our friends, colleagues, families, and romantic partners.

Autopilot mode is dangerous. When we don’t pay enough attention to our words, actions, and behaviors, our life becomes stale. Living impulsively without mindfulness limits our personal growth and steals our joy.

I instantly know it when I’m not living my life to the fullest. My experiences become dull and I feel out of control. When I regain awareness and consciously choose how to navigate my day, happiness and purpose automatically kick back in.

Here’s how to know if you’ve been living on autopilot:

>> You feel disconnected from life and your loved ones.

>> You give up on your goals.

>> You feel you’re meant for something bigger.

>> You’re not genuinely happy.

>> You emotionally shut down.

>> You’re cut off from yourself.

>> You do things heedlessly.

>> You feel your days are predictable and repetitive.

>> You blame others for your unhappiness.

>> You want to be productive but can’t.

>> You crave excitement.

>> You’re often bored or feeling lazy.

Wanting to re-engage in life is a natural response to stagnancy. We want to live—not just survive. However, living on autopilot is not always palpable. We think that losing our way is normal when in reality our life is crashing down.

We blame others for our unhappiness and think that’s how life should be. But life should be fun. We should have something to look forward to every single day, and the only way to do that is to get out of autopilot mode and start living a life of purpose.

Here’s how to stop living on autopilot:

1. Do something out of the ordinary. Our days are often predictable, so the novelty of being alive and passionate slowly wears off as we repeat the same tasks over and over again. Make a commitment to do something new or unusual every day. When we choose what to do instead of succumbing to our usual routine without thinking, we re-engage in life and feel slightly alive again.

2. Leave your comfort zone. Whatever our comfort zone looks like, know that it’s slowly destroying our happiness. Spicy up your life and leave your comfort zone so you can put an end to monotonous days. Even if you feel tired or gloomy, go outside to breathe some fresh air or go for a short walk to re-energize your body.

3. Ground yourself in the present moment. Autopilot mode tends to move us away from our center since we are unaware of our actions and experiences. Cherishing the present moment is about paying more attention to how we live. We can do breathing exercises, try meditation, or do activities that calm our occupied minds.

4. Mind your yes and no. When nothing new is happening in our life, we are prone to saying yes and no automatically. If we want to put an end to the autopilot mode, we need to say yes to the things we wouldn’t normally do or no to what would usually make us miserable or unhappy. Breaking out of our routine starts with drawing some serious boundaries.

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