How I’m getting more done by trusting auto-pilot
I’m definitely better at getting stuff done when I don’t think about it.
I’m good at analysing and prioritising and thinking but that’s not always a good thing. Sometimes I just need action. For me, autopilot is the key to breaking the cycle of overthinking.
A good example is doing the laundry. A bit mundane perhaps, but stay with me.
When it comes to sheets, I like fresh sheets. So the ideal is to change them once a week.
But even though I know I like to change the sheets once a week, left on my own, sometimes I won’t get around to it. Two weeks could go by and then I’m thinking, ‘when did I last change these sheets?’
I’m good at knowing what to do. I’m good at getting it done when I’m doing it. But sometimes I’m just not so good at remembering to do the doing.
Here’s where autopilot comes in.
A while back I set a rule. Wash sheets every Monday. I’ve done the thinking once. Now I don’t need to think or question. I’m not wondering if I should do it today or tomorrow. I just follow the rule: Mondays.
The best thing is that it doesn’t seem to take any more time. Everything else still gets done on a Monday.
Actually, even better, now that it’s locked in on Monday, my brain starts looking for ways to optimise the schedule rather than wasting time on the pros and cons. Sometimes I’ll set the sheets to wash on Sunday night, the machine kicks in early Monday morning and when I wake up they’re done.
After seeing the benefit of auto-pilot in the laundry, I’ve started implementing other ‘rules’. Whether it’s a mundane task like washing sheets or something more important like picking up the kids up from school on time. Now I do the thinking once to work out the best approach, make a rule, and trust the rule.
Thanks autopilot.
