Living on Autopilot
Have you ever driven somewhere and arrived at your destination only to wonder how you got there? That was your brain running on autopilot. There’s no doubt we can all relate to this.
Living on autopilot sounds like what it means. It looks like doing things without really thinking or applying conscious effort. It can also look like doing the same things every day or every week in the same order.
There’s no variety or novelty.
The brain’s ability to do this is a form of protection. It believes it’s keeping you safe by avoiding overwhelm and making everyday decisions quickly. The brain is removing friction and in doing so, creates room to learn new things and skills.
Your subconscious mind craves comfort and routine. Predictability lets your brain know you and your body are secure. This is why we tend to do the same things, watch the same shows, pick the same meals at restaurants, etc.
Autopilot conveniences us to remain the same. Causing people to choose what they’ve always done in ways they have always done them. This isn’t necessarily a good thing.
When we are comfortable and rely on autopilot too often, it can become the default. Autopilot will start to dictate decisions that actually require thought. This is often when we start to feel complacent.
It also means we aren’t increasing our brain’s neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change through rewiring, growth and reorganization.
Signs of autopilot:
Zoning out
Struggling to remember details
Days lack meaning or purpose
Feeling disconnected in your relationships
Dreading your day because there is nothing to look forward to
Feeling overwhelmed often
And more
Ever wonder why time seems to go by faster and faster as you get older? Autopilot is to blame. As we get older and rely on automation, time will fly.
The brain perceives time by how much memory it needs to use. Time slows down when it’s forced to pay attention and create new memories. When in autopilot, the brain isn’t concerned about this.
It’s focused on going through the motions — completing the task quickly and efficiently.
To avoid autopilot from taking over, you must first evaluate your life. What are your current habits, behaviors, routines and thought patterns? Becoming aware is necessary before implementing changes.
Breaking the cycle and disrupting autopilot becomes easy with novelty. How many times a day or week are you doing something new or different? Try something challenging, switch up your routine, drive a different route to work, etc.
Brain health thrives when seeking novelty and challenging the brain to learn.
Becoming intentional and mindful is another way to disrupt autopilot. Pause and take a few deep breaths. Instead of going through the motions, pay attention to what’s happening around you.
What do you see? What do you hear? Do you smell anything? What colors are around? Get specific.
There’s also this idea of romanticizing your life. View this as elevating mundane areas. Drink sparkling water out of a fancy glass. Light a candle while you work or clean. Play music during your morning routine or while cooking dinner.
Something so small can enhance an action in such a large way.
Awareness is step one. Find areas where you can add novelty. Then make a plan. Maybe you attend a new fitness class this week or sit outside with no distractions or light a candle while doing a yoga flow.
You don’t have to totally transform your routine every day. Try simple, manageable adjustments that will interrupt your life in just the right way. Eventually you’ll be making changes and additions often.
Life will start to feel fresh, fun and lively.