When it comes to the activities we do on a daily basis–whether it's punching in numbers at work or doing routine house cleaning–we usually don't focus on them intently because we have it in the bag.
But maybe we should start paying attention.
Because it's the moment when we get cocky that things quickly start to go awry.
Curious to hear of circumstances where things started to unravel, Redditor PigPopcorn asked:
"What is one of the dumbest things you've done when your brain was on 'auto-pilot'?"
The things we default to saying to others don''t necessarily apply to every situation.
Customer Got Cornered
"I work at a busy restaurant so I end up saying 'corner' hundreds of times a night as I go back and forth around corners and doorways in the kitchen. Was running food to a table, set it down gently, and in my sweetest customer service voice I said 'Corner' while looking the customer right in the eye instead of 'here is your soup' or something like I usually do. They looked confused, my brain tried to reset, and so naturally I said 'Thank you' as if that made it better. I ended up just backing away, it was a lost cause."
– cherry650
Confused At The Walk-Thru
"I was working fast food and taking orders both inside and for the drive thru. I took someone's order inside at the counter and told them to pull forward to the 2nd window."
– w4nd3ringwolf
Invalid Validation
"I told my friend 'you’re welcome!' after he sneezed and excused himself the other day."
– Jessicahisamused
See what I mean about not thinking? These Redditors learned the hard way not to ever lose focus when attempting simple tasks.
Coffee Crisis
"Let a coffee machine run without a jug under it. Went to take a shower and had to clean up the mess afterwards."
– jangxx
Extra Protection
"Lifted my Welding mask up and forgot it was on my head, then went to get a new mask."
– Verdunnny
Learning Curve
"Flipped my kindle over to read the other side of a document."
– Dedj_McDedjson
Hilarious mix-ups are common among those who space out.
Sweetening The Garbage
"Tore open a sugar packet, poured it directly into the trash, tossed the empty paper packet into my coffee."
– kygroar
Yolks On Me
"I was trying to make some scrambled eggs."
"Basic prep: crack the eggs, put the eggs in a bowl, toss the shell."
"My dumba**: crack the egg, put egg in the trash."
"I literally stood above the trash can with the shell in my hands processing what had just happened for about 30 seconds. I just had the faint feeling of 'I f'ked up' and was wondering exactly how for way too long."
– nWo1997
No Coffee For Her
"Not me but one time my gf got handed her drink at Starbucks, said thanks, went over to the bar to get cream or something and immediately dropped her fresh drink straight into the trash can at the bar. Her mother and I just looked at her and started laughing. The barista saw what happened and with a 'it happens' attitude agreed to replace the drink. It also helped that no one was in there except us haha."
"We still bring it up every now and then and all laugh, my gf included."
– KommieKon
Clean Or Cold?
"I put my dirty plate in the freezer instead of the dishwasher."
– mcSibiss
Kitchen Tool Switcheroo
"I was a kitchen employee at Arbys when I was 18. We used to have sub rolls that were footlong, but the only subs we sold were 6 inch. So you had to cut each roll in half before you used it. I was just zoned out one day, and I ended up cutting the sub roll in half, putting the knife back in the sub roll bag, and then trying to use the sub roll to cut the next sandwich. My manager saw it and f'king died."
– boyvsfood2
Never talk to me while I'm tying my shoe laces.
One time I put my shoes on while standing and propped the shoe I was going to tie up on a chair with my foot on it.
The guy I was with asked me a question during my preparation. After answering, I bent all the way down to tie the shoe on my standing leg instead of the one on the chair.
I guess I was more focused on getting out of his apartment after an unsatisfactory night.
Shame on me.
