How to turn off autopilot and become more present

There are many times throughout our day when autopilot is turned on and we don’t even realise it. Mindlessly scrolling through social media, driving to the shops, procrastinating or avoiding something.

Turning off autopilot allows you to be more present and mindful of the actions you take and the thoughts you have. Your autopilot sits firmly within your comfort zone, which can get smaller the more time you spend there. Without judging yourself, try to remember to turn off autopilot and avoid allowing it to dictate your life without you being present. Its okay and natural that our mind will wonder into autopilot mode. This is just a gentle reminder to start being more conscious of when this might be happening.

If there is a hobby that you have been wanting to start (for example, going to the gym in the morning) then it’s important to listen to your inner dialogue when you find yourself delaying or avoiding taking action on this.

Try listening to the voice that is often in the back of your mind and see if you can find the root cause as to why this specific task that you ‘want’ to do isn’t happening.

• If it’s difficult to get out of bed becuase it’s cold, find a way to get warm faster
• If it’s the effort of getting into the car and driving, maybe walk instead or ride your bike and start your workout earlier
• If it’s the fact that you don’t like it when the gym is super busy, find a time when it’s quieter
• If it’s because you don’t know what you’re doing at the gym? Pay for 1-3 PT sessions or just watch YouTube videos to learn the basics
• If you actually just don’t want to go, then don’t go and find a different way to get movement into your day!

But try to make it a conscious decision, rather than letting your autopilot dictate what you do. You are choosing this habit for a reason, remember your 'why' and work on removing those obstacles that are stopping you. These might be physical barriers or mental barriers, but you can work on breaking down both with self compassion and reflection.