How to Get Your Life Back and Stop Living on Autopilot

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Do you ever feel like life is running you instead of the other way around?

Like you’re constantly drowning in responsibilities, rushing from one obligation to the next, but never really living?

You check things off your to-do list, yet there’s always more to do. It simply never stops.

Sometimes we feel lost because life gets too busy and no matter how hard we try, we can’t make time for the things that actually make life worth living.

Other times, we hit milestone after milestone and have everything we think we need to be happy but something still feels deeply off.

It’s easy to get caught in the endless cycle of doing—working, cleaning, responding, organizing, helping—without ever stopping to ask: Is this the life I want to be living?

If you feel stuck and don’t know how to get your life back, don’t worry.

You can take back control. You can reclaim your time, your energy, and your sense of purpose.

Here’s how.

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How to Reclaim Your Life and Time

1. Identify Your Core Values—And Start Living By Them

So many of us go through life on autopilot, doing things society expects us to do without ever questioning if they align with what we actually want.

Take a moment to reflect: What truly matters to you?

• Is it creativity? Family? Freedom? Adventure?
• Are your daily choices aligned with these values, or are they dictated by outside pressures?

When your actions align with your values, life feels more meaningful. But when you’re living according to someone else’s blueprint, you’ll always feel disconnected.

Identify what truly matters to you—and let that be your compass, slowly adding to your daily routine activities that make you feel like you again.

2. Set Boundaries and Stop Overcommitting

How much of your time is spent doing things out of obligation rather than genuine desire?

We often say “yes” because we feel like we have to, don’t want to disappoint others, or believe we should be doing more.

But every time you overcommit, you give away precious time that could be used for something more fulfilling.

If you want to reclaim your time, you need to get comfortable saying “no.”

You don’t owe anyone an explanation. A simple, “I appreciate the invite, but I won’t be able to make it” is enough.

Your time is valuable and unfortunately limited—treat it that way.

3. Make Time for Energy-Boosting Activities

Ask yourself: What makes me feel alive?

Maybe it’s painting, hiking, playing music, or just sitting quietly with a good book. Whatever it is, prioritize it.

These activities aren’t luxuries—they’re essential to your well-being.

Because no matter your goals in life, achieving long-term success requires balance.

A life that constantly drains you isn’t sustainable.

Make time for the things that recharge you.

4. Start Your Day with Something for YOU

Do you wake up and immediately check your emails, scroll through your phone, or rush into work mode?

If so, it’s no wonder your days feel like they belong to everyone but you.

When the first thing you do in the morning is for someone else—whether it’s answering messages, tending to responsibilities, or diving straight into work—it sets the tone for a day that feels reactive rather than intentional.

Instead, start each day with something just for you.

It could be reading a book, going for a walk, exercising, journaling, or working on a personal project—anything that makes you feel good and reminds you that your time belongs to you first.

Even just 30 minutes can make a huge difference in how you feel throughout the day.

This is especially important if you find yourself living for the weekend, dreading Mondays, or feeling stressed every Sunday night.

When your weekdays feel like an endless grind, reclaiming your mornings can help shift that perspective.

By prioritizing yourself before the demands of the world take over, you set the tone for a more balanced and fulfilling day—one where you don’t just exist for work, but actually feel in control of your time and energy.

5. Focus on Health, One Small Habit at a Time

Feeling exhausted all the time? It’s no surprise—our bodies aren’t meant to thrive on stress, poor sleep, and junk food.

But you don’t need a complete lifestyle overhaul to start feeling better. Small, sustainable changes add up. Starting today:

• Swap one processed snack for a healthier alternative.
• Walk for 10 minutes after meals.
• Set a bedtime and stick to it.

Instead of overwhelming yourself with drastic changes, aim to improve just 1% each day. Over time, these small shifts create massive transformations.

Direction matters more than speed.

6. Stop Drowning in Endless To-Do Lists—Focus on What Truly Matters

We glorify being busy, but busyness doesn’t equal productivity.

If your everyday to-do list is 30 tasks long, chances are you’re spending your time on low-impact activities instead of what truly moves the needle.

The Eisenhower Matrix is an amazingly effective tool to prioritize tasks.

Here’s what it looks like:

Here’s how to use it:

• Urgent & Important: Do these first.
• Important but Not Urgent: Schedule them.
• Urgent but Not Important: Delegate.
• Neither Urgent nor Important: Do not do.

The goal isn’t to do more—it’s to do what matters.

This brings us to the next point on this list…

7. Embrace Slow Productivity

The constant pressure to be always busy can leave you exhausted, burned out, and unfulfilled.

But what if productivity wasn’t about always doing more, but about doing the right things at a sustainable pace?

Slow Productivity is about focusing on meaningful, high-impact work while giving yourself space to think, rest, and create without rushing.

Instead of cramming your day with endless tasks, focus on completing fewer, but better tasks.

Set realistic expectations, eliminate unnecessary work, and allow projects to develop over time rather than forcing yourself to sprint toward completion.

This approach prevents burnout and helps you work in a way that aligns with your energy and priorities.

Related read: 12 Benefits of Slow Living for a Happier, Healthier Life

8. Reduce Stress by Understanding What’s in Your Control

Stress and overwhelm often come from trying to control things outside our influence.

To reduce it, identify your roots of stress and separate your concerns into the three following categories:

• What you can control (your habits, mindset, and actions)
• What you can influence (your relationships, work environment)
• What you can’t control (other people’s opinions, the past, global events)

Focus your energy on what’s within your control and let go of the rest.

Learning to manage your emotions to better react to things outside your circle of influence will be much more beneficial than trying to control everything.

9. Improve Your Sleep Quality

Lack of sleep affects everything in our lives—mood, energy, focus, and overall health.

Instead of seeing sleep as a luxury, something you’ll get to do once you complete your to-do list, prioritize it like any other important task.

Here are some simple ways to improve sleep:

• Creating a wind-down routine (no screens 30-60 minutes before bed, drinking a cup of warm tea, taking a warm shower before bed)
• Keeping your room cool and dark
• Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day
• Listening to a sleepcast

Better sleep always leads to better days.

Don’t underestimate it.

10. Move Your Body—But Make It Enjoyable

Exercise isn’t about punishment—it’s about feeling good and honoring your body. To get your life back, getting your health back is key.

As you can imagine, movement is an essential aspect of health.

Whether you’ve always been the fittest person in the room, or you struggle to make exercise part of your daily routine, you need to find movement that you actually enjoy.

• Hate the gym? Try dancing, yoga, or hiking.
• Feel bored easily? Join a sports team or take up rock climbing.

Movement should be something you look forward to, something that makes you feel better, not something you dread.

The goal is to feel alive in your body, not just to burn calories.

So find one activity you enjoy, stick to it daily, and watch your life improve.

11. Understand How Your Bad Habits Make You Feel—And Break the Cycle

We all have habits that drain our energy, waste our time, or make us feel worse instead of better. But most of the time, we don’t stop to ask: How do my habits actually make me feel?

Do you feel sluggish after scrolling on your phone for hours? Drained after saying yes to obligations you don’t want? Irritable after skipping meals or staying up too late? The first step to breaking bad habits is recognizing how they affect your mood, energy, and well-being.

Once you understand how your habits impact your feelings, think of activities that make you feel the opposite and start implementing them, one habit at a time.

Once you build awareness, you’ll naturally start shifting toward habits that make you feel good—without forcing yourself to change.

12. Check In With Yourself and Get to Know Your Mind

Self-awareness is key to creating a life that truly feels right for you. If you don’t take the time to reflect, you might find yourself stuck in cycles that don’t serve you—repeating the same habits, making the same mistakes, and wondering why nothing feels quite right.

Journaling is one of the simplest ways to reconnect with yourself.

It forces you to slow down, process your emotions, and notice patterns in your life.

Five minutes a day can help you gain clarity and shift your mindset.

Don’t know where to start? Here are 3 easy prompts to kickstart your reflection:

• What made me happy today? (Acknowledge the little joys and moments of gratitude.)
• How did today make me feel? (Tune into your emotions—are you feeling drained, fulfilled, anxious, or energized?)
• How can I make tomorrow better? (Identify small changes that could improve your well-being.)

Journaling is like having a conversation with yourself—one that helps you uncover what’s working in your life and what isn’t.

If writing isn’t your thing, try voice-recording your thoughts or simply sitting quietly and mentally checking in with yourself.

The more you practice self-reflection, the easier it becomes to make intentional choices that align with the life you actually want to live.

13. Choose Your People Wisely

The company you keep plays a significant role in shaping your overall well-being, mindset, and energy.

Think about it: how often do you leave a conversation or gathering feeling drained, anxious, or disheartened?

Or, on the flip side, how often do you walk away from an interaction feeling motivated, supported, and uplifted?

The people around you—whether family, friends, colleagues—have the power to influence your thoughts, emotions, and actions, for better or for worse.

While it’s important to maintain empathy and show kindness, it’s equally important to protect your emotional space.

When evaluating the relationships in your life, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I feel seen, heard, and valued in this relationship?
• Does this person support my goals, dreams, and growth?
• Does this relationship bring me peace and joy, or does it leave me feeling drained?
• Am I contributing to the relationship in a way that feels balanced and healthy?

Choose connections that feel good—your time is too precious for anything else.

14. Practice Mindful Presence—Stop Living on Autopilot

Have you ever done something and wondered later that day if you actually did it?

Or eaten a meal so quickly that you barely tasted it?

When busy, many of us go through life in autopilot mode, missing out on the richness of our everyday experiences.

Mindfulness is about being fully present—whether you’re sipping your morning coffee, walking outside, or having a conversation with a friend.

Practicing mindfulness slows life down and helps you reconnect with the moment.

To reclaim your time, start with ten minutes a day where you fully focus on whatever you’re doing—no distractions, no multitasking.

The more present you are, the more meaningful your life becomes.

15. Let Go of Perfectionism—Chose Progress Over Perfection

Perfectionism can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming.

When you constantly strive for flawless results, you may end up overplanning, procrastinating, feeling dissatisfied, or never finishing what you start.

Instead, shift your mindset to focus on progress, not perfection.

Ask yourself: “Is this good enough to move forward?”

Often, getting something done at 80% is better than striving for 100% and never finishing.

Give yourself permission to be imperfect—because taking action, even if it’s messy, is better than standing still.

Done will always be better than perfect.

16. Schedule Time for Rest—Not Just Productivity

We schedule meetings, appointments, and deadlines, but when was the last time you scheduled rest?

Many people only rest when they’ve hit burnout because their bodies force them to pause—but by then, it’s too late.

Instead of treating rest as something you earn, make it imperative in your day. Block out time in your calendar for relaxation—whether it’s a quiet walk, an afternoon nap, or simply doing nothing. Rest isn’t lazy; it’s essential for mental clarity and long-term productivity.

Without it, you’ll always feel like you’re running on empty.

Final Thoughts: You Get to Choose How You Live

Reclaiming your life doesn’t mean making drastic changes overnight. It’s about small, intentional shifts—choosing where your time goes, prioritizing what truly matters, and letting go of what doesn’t serve you.

You don’t have to live in survival mode. You don’t have to settle for a life that constantly drains you.

There is another way to live.

So start today. Take one small step. Your time, energy, and well-being are worth it.