It’s so easy to slip into autopilot in life without even noticing.
One minute you’re chasing goals and feeling motivated, and the next you’re half-heartedly going through the motions, wondering why everything feels a little flat. Complacency doesn’t tend to crash down dramatically. Instead, it tends to come over you slowly and quietly, and you don’t realise until you’re knee-deep in it. Luckily, you can shake yourself out of it with some surprisingly simple strategies that actually work. Here’s how to stop treading water and bring a little more fire back into your life.
1. Set tiny, specific goals instead of vague big ones.
It’s hard to feel excited when your goals are so big and abstract that they don’t even feel real. Instead of saying you want to “be healthier” or “get ahead at work,” set ridiculously specific goals like drinking two extra glasses of water today or sending one networking email.
Small wins create momentum. The brain loves a clear target it can actually hit, and stacking tiny wins makes bigger goals feel way less overwhelming over time. You stop getting stuck because you’re too busy moving forward bit by bit.
2. Change one small thing in your daily routine.
Complacency thrives on sameness. When every day starts to blur into the next, even little changes can snap your brain awake. You don’t actually need a full life overhaul—just shake up one tiny part of your day. It could be as simple as taking a new route to work, trying a different lunch spot, or listening to a new kind of podcast. Small disruptions to your routine create just enough novelty to wake up parts of your mind that have been snoozing.
3. Surround yourself with people who are stretching themselves.
If everyone around you is playing it safe or cruising, it is way easier for you to do the same without thinking twice. However, spending time with people who are actively challenging themselves has a way of pulling you forward, too. It’s not about competition or comparison. Really, it’s about energy. Being around people who are growing, even in small ways, reminds you that growth is contagious. It makes you want to stretch a little further too.
4. Revisit something you used to love doing.
Sometimes complacency shows up because life starts to feel like a long list of obligations with no real joy mixed in. Reconnecting with an old hobby, interest, or passion can reignite parts of you that have been gathering dust. It doesn’t have to lead anywhere productive. The point is to remind yourself what it feels like to be lit up from the inside, to chase curiosity for its own sake, not because it will check off a box or impress anyone else.
5. Let yourself be a beginner at something again.
Trying new things is vulnerable and messy, which is exactly why it shakes you out of complacency fast. When you’re a beginner, you cannot coast on autopilot. Your brain has to engage differently. Pick something that sounds a little intimidating but fun—pottery, rock climbing, a new language, whatever sparks interest. Learning keeps you humble, keeps you curious, and keeps you moving forward even when life feels a bit too routine.
6. Stop waiting until you feel “ready.”
Complacency loves to hide behind perfectionism. You tell yourself you’re just waiting for the right time, the perfect mood, or a little more clarity. Of course, most of the time, you’re not stuck because you’re not ready. You’re stuck because you’re waiting. Momentum comes from starting, not from feeling magically prepared first. Taking even one awkward, imperfect step forward usually creates the motivation you thought you had to find before you could begin.
7. Break big projects into laughably small steps.
Feeling overwhelmed often disguises itself as complacency. When a task feels too big, your brain quietly checks out to protect you from the stress of trying to figure it all out at once. Break big projects down until the next step feels almost ridiculously small, like “open a blank document” or “write one paragraph.” Tiny steps shrink big resistance. Once you’re moving, it’s way easier to stay moving.
8. Celebrate progress way earlier than you think you should.
Waiting to celebrate until the whole goal is done makes the journey feel endless. Complacency creeps in when it feels like nothing you do matters until you have climbed the whole mountain. Instead, celebrate the early steps. Finished a rough draft? Huge. Got through one tough conversation? Massive. Rewarding progress, not just outcomes, keeps motivation alive through the long middle parts where it is easiest to drift off course.
9. Say “yes” to something before you feel 100% ready.
Growth often starts by committing to things before you have everything figured out. Saying yes when you’re 70% ready forces you to rise to the occasion instead of sitting around waiting to feel perfect. That nervous energy you feel after saying yes is actually good. It wakes you up, sharpens your focus, and reminds you that growth always feels a little risky at first, and that’s exactly why it matters.
10. Challenge your inner “what’s the point” voice.
When complacency creeps in, your brain loves whispering things like “It won’t matter anyway” or “You’re not going to stick with it, so why bother.” Those thoughts feel true in the moment, but they’re usually just fear wearing a different outfit. Catch that voice and challenge it. Ask yourself what tiny difference it would make if you tried anyway. Progress often looks small at first, but it adds up way faster than your doubt gives it credit for.
11. Connect to a bigger “why” behind what you’re doing.
Tasks without meaning feel heavy and boring, even if they’re technically important. Sometimes you have to zoom out and reconnect to the bigger reason behind the small steps you are taking. Maybe working out isn’t just about losing weight; it’s about feeling strong enough to chase your dreams. Maybe saving money isn’t just about numbers; it’s about freedom. Finding your bigger “why” lights a fire under the small stuff.
12. Shake up your environment when you feel stuck.
Sometimes your surroundings are half the problem. Working in the same spot, seeing the same walls, repeating the same loops quietly dulls your brain over time without you noticing. Even small changes like moving your desk, taking your laptop outside, or rearranging a few things can jolt you back into focus. New scenery reminds your mind that things can change even when you feel stuck.
13. Give yourself permission to be a little messy.
Trying to be perfect all the time is exhausting, and when you’re exhausted, complacency sneaks in as a weird form of self-protection. Sometimes the real cure for being stuck is giving yourself permission to show up imperfectly and just keep going anyway. Messy action builds momentum faster than perfect planning. It reminds you that progress, not perfection, is where all the good stuff lives. And once you’re moving again, it gets easier to find your fire all over again.
