When You’ve Been Running on Autopilot: Press Pause and Reconnect

A calm, reflective moment capturing the essence of pausing and reconnecting - symbolising stillness, warmth, and self-reflection for working mothers.

Feeling stuck on autopilot? You’re not alone.

If you’ve ever found yourself moving from one task to the next without really stopping to think, you’re in good company. For many working mothers, life can feel like a blur of school runs, deadlines, and endless to-dos.

I felt it myself recently. September and October were messy - disjointed, even. After taking half-term off with my boys, I realised I needed more than a quick catch-up. One morning, after the school drop-off, I sat down with a coffee and my notebook. Instead of writing a list of things to do, I wrote one question:

What do I want the rest of this year to feel like?

The answer wasn’t about doing more, it was about showing up differently. With more energy, more intention, and an openness to new possibilities.

Why it’s easy to lose connection with yourself

Motherhood reshapes your priorities. Between work meetings, family logistics, and everyone else’s needs, your own sense of direction can quietly fade into the background.

I often meet mothers who come to coaching thinking they need career clarity. But what we usually uncover first is a need for personal clarity - to reconnect with who they are now and what matters most to them.

Because clarity doesn’t come from doing more.

It comes from listening to yourself long enough to know what really matters.

A thoughtful, reflective image of a woman journaling outdoors, representing clarity, connection, and taking time to pause before planning ahead.

Three gentle ways to reconnect

1. Create a moment of stillness

You don’t need hours, start with ten quiet minutes. Grab a notebook and pen, make a cup of tea, and ask yourself:
What do I want the rest of this year to feel like?
Let your mind wander without judgement. There’s no perfect answer, only what feels true right now.

2. Check your energy, not just your to-do list

Notice what gives you energy and what drains it. If a task leaves you flat, can it be simplified, shared, or skipped altogether? Energy is information - it shows you where your focus deserves to be.

3. Stay open to new possibilities

When we stop rushing, we create space for something new to find us. You don’t have to make big changes, but being open - even in thought, can shift your perspective and lead to opportunities you hadn’t seen before.

Why this matters for your career

When you feel connected to yourself, your decisions at work become clearer. You communicate your boundaries with confidence. You know what kind of balance you need and what success actually looks like for you.

It’s not about starting from scratch, it’s about returning to yourself. From there, your career choices, leadership, and ambitions all align more naturally.

Ready to reconnect?

If this resonated, coaching can help you take that reflection further. Whether you want to rebuild confidence, create balance, or redefine success, I’ll help you find clarity and direction again.

Because thriving doesn’t start with doing more, it starts with coming back to you.