Do you ever feel like you’re just running on autopilot?

[dongbibi]

Lately I’ve been feeling like life is just a blur of work, chores, kids, and collapsing into bed at the end of the day. I can’t remember the last time I actually stopped and thought, “I’m enjoying this moment.” It’s all just one long list of things to do.
I used to have hobbies, read books, meet up with friends — now it’s all packed lunches, laundry, and trying to remember who needs what for school. Even weekends don’t really feel like a break anymore.
Is this just normal adult life or have I let things get too monotonous? I don’t feel unhappy exactly, just… flat. Like I’m functioning but not really living, if that makes sense.
Has anyone else gone through this and found a way to break out of it?

I have, but it took some huge things to do it. Huge horrible life crap and a really bad year health, family, relationship and money wise.

Basically what I did was add more to my plate! At night I stopped myself going to bed when the kids did and started watching tv or comedy. I started making reading lists, went to a few local plays even when exhausted, visited some places I’ve always wanted to see. I pulled the kids back to taking part in board game nights even on school nights. I also made sure two nights a week I was in bed early early and stopped screens before I went to bed those nights (I’m addicted to my phone lol!). Myself and dh have also had our first date night In possibly two years!!

Got my nails done before this for the first time, coloured hair. This is all I’m the last year and boy it helps! Also, robot vacuum and I’ve started asking others for help more eg offering play dates then my kids will go to theirs. Have eased up on offering to do extra hours at work too, I’ll do it if someone needs it but if other people have offered I step back.

This is all a lot but I think even taking a small step might help you- a single list of what you miss, music you listened to or puzzles you used to do etc etc.

Yes, sometimes, and often when I had younger children. What started to change things for me was listening to Headspace. I think they still do free meditations on the app. I would sit in the car in a multistorey car park with my eyes closed listening to someone gently talk to me for ten minutes and feel a lot better after.

It was the start of learning to focus more on me and carve out time for myself.

Yes, that feeling is so relatable. It’s easy to slip into autopilot when every day feels like survival mode. You’re not alone in this at all. Sometimes even small changes can help — taking a short walk alone, saying no to one extra task, or setting aside 10 minutes for something that’s just for you. It won’t fix everything overnight, but those little pauses can slowly bring a sense of “you” back into the routine.

Yes, I totally get what you mean. I’ve felt that way too — like everything is just one big loop of routines and responsibilities. I don’t think it’s unusual, especially when you’ve got work and kids; life becomes very structured, and there’s not much room left for spontaneity.
What helped me a bit was carving out even a small bit of time each week for something that’s just mine — like listening to a podcast on a walk, or having a quiet coffee alone without doing chores. It doesn’t fix everything, but it reminds me that I exist outside the to-do list.
Also, sometimes even changing small things (like doing something different on a weekend morning, or saying yes to a last-minute plan) helps break that autopilot feeling a bit. You’re definitely not alone in this.

Yes, I completely get what you mean — it’s like you’re constantly doing but rarely being. I went through something very similar last year and it honestly scared me how easily I’d slipped into autopilot without even realising. What helped a bit was carving out tiny pockets of time that felt like mine, even if it was just 10 minutes with a coffee and no phone, or a short walk by myself after dinner.
It didn’t magically fix everything, but it reminded me that I still exist outside of work and parenting. I think sometimes we wait for big changes or “when things calm down,” but that moment never really comes — so starting small is better than waiting forever.