If there was a time in your life when you just wanted to get in the car and drive without necessarily having to go somewhere, without even thinking about the destination, then you understand the feeling of freedom that this movement hides.
In a way we do not exactly realize, pointless car rides have something very healing. But it is also scientifically explained to make it more understandable to us.
Although driving can be stressful, especially if you live in an urban area with a lot of traffic jams, under the right conditions it can really reduce stress. In fact, a recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that driving can have the same benefits of stress relief as going to the gym.
Driving is an activity suitable for spiritual search and contemplation.
“Going for a walk allows us to reflect and come back with more knowledge,” says Eric Klinenberg, Ph.D., a sociology professor at New York University and author of Going Solo.
“There is something about being in the driver’s seat – with the sense of control it gives you – that allows you to think productively and solve problems,” he adds.
If work, family, obligations, “musts” occupy a large part of your mind, driving is a break from all this and can be a unique opportunity to calm down and clear your mind.
“People crave productive loneliness, time to be alone to deal with problems without being distracted by social media,” says Klinenberg.
“We need time and space to think about who we are, where we are going in our lives and how we can change the things we want to change.”
An escape vehicle from everyday life
“The car works as an escape vehicle for many people, especially young men and women,” says Leon James, Ph.D., a professor of psychology who studies driving behavior at the University of Hawaii.
We often associate driving with anxiety, anger, and even rage on the road, however there are drivers out there who say that being behind the wheel really makes them feel calmer.
Many racing drivers even report feeling much happier and less anxious when driving on public roads than sitting in an office meeting.
Many of these have to do with controlling the environment in which we find ourselves.
When a racing driver finds himself sitting in a meeting room alien to his professional life, being at the wheel is the point where he is most confident and thus stress levels are reduced.
Driving requires our full attention, so it is a way to force the brain to put aside other worries while dealing with situations that require decision making.
Of course there are those who find driving relaxing simply because they think nothing of it, including driving, but these are people who should not be on the road and are usually easily identified by their bad driving habits!
On the other hand, someone who drives very well is probably someone who feels calm when he is behind the wheel. It may take a lot of experience to achieve this state of mind, but it is something that comes with practice.
So, the more you drive and spend time on your ability as a driver, the faster you will eliminate your stress, enjoying those long pointless rides in your car.
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