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12 things you don’t realize you’re doing because you lack direction in life

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Are you living without direction?

A person with a beard and blue eyes stands outside in front of a light blue wall, wearing a gray and white striped shirt.

People who lack direction often end up doing similar things to comfort and distract themselves from their discontent. If you find that you’re doing any of the things listed here, chances are you are drifting rather aimlessly through life.

1. Following the same default routine you’ve been clinging to for years.

A woman wearing a black cap and sunglasses stands against a light wooden wall. She has a white towel draped over her shoulders and is holding a smartphone while listening to it with earphones. She is dressed in a gray tank top.

Do you make meatloaf for dinner every Tuesday, go to a movie on Fridays, laundry on Sundays, and so on? Your routine may not follow this pattern specifically, but if you’ve been doing the same thing over and over for years, you’re likely stuck in an uncomfortable rut and have no idea what direction to take next.

2. Distracting yourself from the reality of your situation.

A person wearing a baseball cap and white shirt paddles on a surfboard through blue ocean waves under a clear sky with scattered clouds.

If you’re fully aware that you lack direction in life, but you don’t have the drive to make any changes, you might distract yourself to avoid confronting the truth of this issue. Some people may choose to spend all their time with friends, while others might immerse in high-focus hobbies.

3. Overworking, especially at a job you dislike.

A man in a teal shirt sits at a desk with his head in his hands, appearing stressed. A computer monitor displays documents, and a pair of glasses rests on the table. A woman works in the background in an office setting.

If you never stop working, you won’t have time to think about how miserable you are in your current situation. You might truly hate your job at this point and are aching for something (anything) different, but since you have no idea what route to take next, you simply keep on trudging.

4. Asking others for their opinions instead of making your own decisions.

Two people sitting at a café table under an umbrella, engaged in conversation. One is gesturing with their hand, and both are wearing glasses. A laptop and drinks are on the table, with reflections of trees visible in the background.

The mere thought of making any kind of decision for yourself might feel like an insurmountable challenge to overcome, so you delegate that responsibility to other people instead. You’ll either ask their opinions and act accordingly, or abdicate all sovereignty and let them rule your life for you.

5. Not living in the present moment.

A contemplative individual with glasses and a white shirt rests their chin on a black cushion, gazing off to the side against a light background.

If you’re lacking direction in life and really dislike where you’re at in the present moment, you’re likely looking for ways to escape your current existence. As such, you may be either fixated on the past or perpetually looking forward to future endeavors, instead of fully experiencing what’s going on here and now.

6. Numbing out with mindless sensory input.

A woman sitting on a sofa, wearing a striped sweater and jeans, looks at her phone with a thoughtful expression, inside a cozy room with a large window and bookshelves.

You may be dealing with a maelstrom of emotions because you’re so conflicted about what to do with your life, and so you numb yourself from them in various ways. Some people might binge-watch their favorite comfort TV series while others might scroll on their phones for hours at a time.

7. Escapism.

A man with a beard is sitting on a couch, holding a video game controller. He is wearing a gray sweater and green headphones, smiling while engaged in playing a game. The background is dark, enhancing the focus on him.

If this world doesn’t offer you any appealing opportunities for change, and you have no idea what direction to take next, you may escape into a different realm entirely. This may involve reading book series that you find exhilarating, or playing MMORPG games that allow you to experience life in another universe.

8. Stagnating or regressing.

A woman with wavy, shoulder-length hair stands outside on a city street. She is wearing a green puffer vest over a yellow sweater and has a neutral expression on her face. The background features buildings and parked cars.

If you feel that you reached your “peak” a while ago and have no idea where to go from there, you might stagnate rather than break out of your comfort zone and potentially fail at something. Similarly, if your glory days were years ago, you may regress to the age where you felt most confident.

9. Instant or temporary gratification.

A person in a dark shirt is using a laptop, typing with one hand while holding a credit card in the other. The scene appears to take place at a table near a window with light streaming in.

People who are lacking direction in life often fill what’s missing with either pleasure, or “stuff”. If you fall into this category, you may hook up with random strangers for the dopamine rush and instant gratification, or spend money needlessly because of the thrill you get from getting a new material possession.

10. Settling instead of striving.

A man with short, light brown hair is gazing to the side. He is wearing a dark jacket and a white collared shirt. His hand is raised near his face, lightly touching his cheek. The background is dark, emphasizing his profile and thoughtful expression.

You might convince yourself to make do with the pittance that you have because you just feel like you’ll fail at anything you pursue at this point. This can even extend to not asking for a raise at a job you’ve been working at for ages because you’re afraid of getting fired if you do.

11. Disassociation due to overwhelm.

A black and white portrait of a person with short hair, looking thoughtfully into the distance. The right side of their face is illuminated, while the left side is in shadow, creating a dramatic contrast. The person is wearing a light-colored, textured top.

In the face of a seemingly endless sea of options, you may simply shut down and disassociate because there’s too much to process here. It’s a lot easier to go on autopilot than face the possibility of making the wrong decision and spending time and energy on something that won’t work out.

12. Goal-switching.

Black and white photo of a person in a martial arts uniform practicing a punch. They have a determined expression and are positioned sideways, extending one arm straight while keeping the other arm bent. They are wearing a black belt and have their hair tied back.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from disassociation is pursuing and switching goals at lightning speed. You might decide to be a bartender and get licensed for that, only to decide the following week that no, you’d rather become a carpenter, and follow that path for a while, and so on.

About The Author

Finn Robinson has spent the past few decades travelling the globe and honing his skills in bodywork, holistic health, and environmental stewardship. In his role as a personal trainer and fitness coach, he’s acted as an informal counselor to clients and friends alike, drawing upon his own life experience as well as his studies in both Eastern and Western philosophies. For him, every day is an opportunity to be of service to others in the hope of sowing seeds for a better world.