I was staring at a menu I’ve read a hundred times, already searching for my usual order when something made me pause. Instead of asking “What do I always get?” I asked a different question: “What do I feel like having right now?”.
It was such a small shift, but it changed everything about that moment.
I ordered something unfamiliar. It wasn’t better or worse than my usual, just different. That difference pulled me fully into the experience in a way I hadn’t been in weeks. I tasted each bite. I noticed things I would’ve missed. I was actually there.
That’s when I realized this is what we trade when we default to autopilot. Routines can be enjoyable, but when everything is familiar, we stop paying attention. We move through our days efficiently, but we’re not quite present for them. Consider how often you arrive home from your usual commute and don’t recall a thing about it.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how easily life can slide into this mode. Not because anything is wrong, but because everything is full. Full calendars, inboxes, and days that leave very little room for pause. Autopilot isn’t laziness, it’s a survival response.
I wonder how often we do this. The same coffee order. The same route to work. The same answer when someone asks what we want to do this weekend. These aren’t bad choices; they’re just automatic ones. And over time, automatic can start to feel like the only option, even when it isn’t.
Routines give us so much. They reduce friction, save energy, and create comfort. I’m not suggesting we abandon them, but there’s value in occasionally interrupting what’s automatic. Not because change is inherently good, but because it wakes us up. It reminds us that we’re choosing, not just repeating.
You don’t need to overhaul anything. Just pick one small, habitual choice this week and make it differently. Order something else. Take a different route. Say yes to the plan that makes you slightly nervous instead of the one that sounds easy.
You might discover something better. You might not. But you’ll be awake for it. You’ll remember it. And sometimes, that’s what matters most.
I’m genuinely curious: where have you been running on autopilot without really noticing?
“Awareness is the greatest agent for change.” – Eckhart Tolle
If you’ve recently broken a routine, even a tiny one, and something shifted, I’d love to hear about it. Reply here or send me a message. And if this resonated, feel free to pass it along to someone who might need a gentle nudge to shake things up.
Have an unpredictable weekend.
-Vijay