|
Coping with East Bay highway traffic after school pickup, my daughter, Lucy, and I started taking side streets home. Then we gave it a name: “the no-highway-way.” Though it technically took about the same amount of time or longer, it was so much more pleasant than sitting in traffic. We’d meander through neighborhoods we normally wouldn’t see while listening to music and chatting about whatever was on our minds. There wasn’t just one no-highway-way either—we had many alternative routes. Keeping it fresh. The scene on the highway was in stark contrast: stop, go, stop, go, dodge crappy merger, guard up, music even feels stressful, arrive home annoyed. Turns out the no-highway-way—with its stress reduction and exposure to new things—applies to so many things in life: Studies show that new experiences and changing routines boost creativity, happiness, intelligence and even slows aging. It’s hard to think straight when we’re stressed. Quality of time spent is more important than quantity.
What’s something you can change in your routine? Maybe a different dog walking route? Bonus points if it’s eliminating something stressful, like an annoying commute.
|
