Are you running on automation?

Three signs you are running your life on autopilot and what to do to change it

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

Coaching wasn’t the first venture I started online. In the last three years of running a successful systems business, I’ve helped over 100 entrepreneurs put their workflows on autopilot.

Many administrative tasks can be done the same way every time, which is where automation comes in. By standardizing my clients' processes and incorporating automation in their workflow, they don't have to think about what admin tasks need to be done when, because systems do the heavy lifting for them.

This frees up energy for my clients to pursue money generating activities that light them up. There is so much value in incorporating automation into your business.

But what happens when our LIFE runs on automation?

The result can be the exact opposite of what it looks like for a business. It can leave you feeling exhausted, lethargic, out of balance and alignment, and more often than not, you can’t quite put your finger on how you got where you are.

Here are a few key questions to ask yourself:

1. Do you overcommit? You default to saying “yes” without pausing to consider what you need, and often your calendar is overloaded with activities and tasks that you don’t want to do.
2. Do you lack excitement about your day? Your routine is predictable and you can move through your day barely thinking about why you’re doing certain things.
3. Do you feel like life is flying by? Days move fast, you find it hard to slow down and reflect on where you are now, and difficult to plan goals for the future.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but if you answered yes to any of these three questions, there’s a good chance you’re just running through the motions of life instead of experiencing them.

Running on automation disconnects us from the present moment and distracts us from the future.

Automation through life doesn’t leave you the space to practice mindfulness. There’s no room to sit back and reflect on where you’ve landed or room to sit with what your dreams and aspirations are for your future.

As a coach, one of the ways that I like to facilitate awakening women to their dreams is through a soul map session — a two-hour coaching intensive designed to reconnect to your intuition and uncover your passion, so you can start living life to the fullest.

Arguably the most important part of this session is the prework which is a future-self, guided meditation.

Connecting with your future-self has a great impact on the way you think, and how you make decisions in the present. Studies have shown that honing this emotional connection has the ability to build self-confidence, reduce stress and anxiety, create more awareness of the present, and generate more success and fulfilment in your life because you become invested in her.

The good news is that you don’t need a paid container to incorporate this into your life — you can practice a future-self meditation on your own, and reap similar benefits. There are a variety of different meditation styles you can experiment with. Here are two you might be interested in: one by Tara Brach which is relatively short, and a longer version from Dr. Joe Dispenza.

When you practice this activity, make sure to find a comfortable, quiet location and approach it with an open mind. Many people have a difficult time visualizing the future, but with time and practice, it becomes easier.

If you decide to try future-self meditation, let me know how it worked for you.

Thank you for reading. If this resonated with you, please leave a clap and follow me here — I would really appreciate it! Want more strategies to increase your happiness level delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for my email list here.