Get Unstuck: Escaping From Auto Pilot Mode
5 Lowkey Ways to Jump Back Into Your Body
Many of my friends have made it their life’s work to help other people live a full life. They are therapists, psychologists, and physicians who are great at what they do, but they all share a secret trait that nobody knows about—horrible self-care practices.
The first year that I became a full-time creator, I often found myself up at 3AM whipping up mental health content and carrying a stomach full of coffee where food should have been. I had a growing family with growing expenses, but for the first time in my life, I could not tell you when my next check was coming.
I was anxious, irritable, and ambitious. Take those three ingredients, bake for two hours at 400 degrees, and viola–You’ll have a nervous breakdown.
In the last three years, I’ve focused less on creating balance and more on making myself harder to neglect. Today, I’m sharing the tips that have helped my clients, friends, and myself get unstuck from auto-pilot mode.
Human-to Human Contact
It’s widely believed that the majority of human communication is non-verbal. Physical touch is a powerful way to signal connection, comfort, and reassurance without a single word being spoken. Hugs and cuddles stimulate oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, which are important brain chemicals that help regulate mood.
If you don’t have a person to share human-to-human contact with, then cuddling a pet, receiving a massage, or relaxing under a weighted blanket are great substitutes. Your text group chat is only giving you the illusion of human-to-human contact. You need to be in community with people in real life. Here are a few overlooked examples of what that looks like:
Holding hands
Bro Hugs
Cuddle with a pet
Get a relaxing massage
Rituals to Connect You with Your Body
When life gets hectic, one of the first things that we do is abandon the body. Think of one of your existing daily practices that you can add more awareness to. The goal here is not to get the job done. Rather, it’s to take notice of what you are experiencing throughout the process.
One of my go-tos is adding mindfulness to my skincare routine. Paying such close attention to my senses, particularly what I smell, feel, and see, allows me to jump out of auto-pilot and back into my body.
What else can I Do?
Take a phone-free walk
Notice all of the sensations that occur when you brush your teeth
Eat a meal undistracted and take notice of the taste & texture of each bite
Take Your SupplementsI
I’m criminally Vitamin D deficient, according to my doctor. So much so that he wrote me a prescription before explaining that 1 in 4 Americans likely have a similar problem. Deficiencies in B and D vitamins have been linked to depression and other mental health conditions, so it’s worth taking a look at.
I know, it’s an annoying, but easy, fix.
Set a reminder on your phone to take your supplements daily.
Keep your supplements somewhere that’s easily visible (your bathroom sink)
Find supplements that you enjoy taking (Olly gummies for me)
Take a note from your grandma and get a good ole MTWTHFSaSu pill box
Feel Clean and Smell Good Even When You Have Nowhere to Go
Sometimes the best self-care methods are the most simple. Feeling good in your own skin is one of those experiences that we genuinely overlook. Even if I have nowhere to go, I spray on my favorite cologne after a hot shower. Scent activates the part of our brains responsible for memory, emotional regulation and learning. You can be your own aromatherapy candle!
Applying your favorite body oil has a similar effect
Confidence isn’t just for crowds. Feeling yourself while by being by yourself matters too
Top it off with a comfortable outfit, even if you look slightly disheveled.
Take a Nap on Purpose
You are either a human being or a human doing, but you are rarely a human resting. Many of our problems can be eliminated by going to bed at 8PM, and since neither you nor I are doing that, better sleep hygiene is the next best thing. Going to bed on purpose is a more restful experience than falling asleep somewhere out of exhaustion.
Set a timer for 20-45 minutes for a quick power nap when possible.
Prepare for bed vs. passing out on the couch after dinner
Set a bedtime and give yourself a 1.5 hour grace period to jump into bed
Try to make your bedtime goals 2 of the 7 days in a week. That’s a great start
These tips are cheap or free, take very little effort and blend into the things that you already do. Creating extra work for yourself will forever be a barrier in-between you and consistency–you already have so much to do. In a world that is aggressive around taking, try adding these restorative practices to your toolbox. It just may be that 20 minute charge that takes you from a pathetic 10% battery to a manageable 40%.
These are great. I find myself laughing with friends saying, “I want a refund on all the naps I rejected as a child!”. I also find staying properly hydrated helped a lot!
As a work-from-home mom of adults, the smell good even if you don't have anywhere to go comment hit home, going to incorporate this in my daily routine of going to my office in the basement lol