Breaking Free from Autopilot: How Willpower Can Help Transform Your Habits

We often don’t realize how much of our daily lives are governed by habits we’ve built over time. In fact, according to psychologist Wendy Wood, around 40-45% of our actions are driven by autopilot, meaning we go through routines without fully thinking about them. But what happens when those habits no longer serve us? How do we break free?

In my own life, I had an aha moment while cleaning out my garage. I was struggling to lift heavy boxes, and it made me realize just how much strength I had lost. Up until that moment, I was unaware of how much my body had changed, all because I had been living on autopilot—going through daily tasks without paying attention to the impact on my body. This realization was a turning point for me. I knew I had to make a change, and that’s when I tapped into my superpower: willpower.

Willpower, much like a muscle, can help us break free from automatic behaviors. It gives us the push we need to take those first steps toward better habits. In my case, I used willpower to create a new routine—taking breaks from sitting and incorporating exercises that rebuilt my strength and energy.

It's easy to fall into habits that drain us. We may rely on things like coffee for energy, but over time, these habits take a toll. The key is to become mindful of them and use willpower to shift toward more intentional, healthier choices.

Take a moment to reflect on your own habits. Are there routines you’ve fallen into that are no longer serving you? What small, intentional changes could you make today to live with more energy and purpose? Remember, it’s the small shifts that lead to lasting change.