4 ms·

Yes, driving is a good de-stressor, probably because it gives you more agency when you feel powerless.

nineumbrellas 7y ago
I recently setup a racing sim rig and love to just cruise around after work as I don't have a real car. Absolutely de-stresses me.
- rpmisms 7y ago
  That's probably smarter than my after-work "tire warmups". In the winter here, I tend to slide around corners, too. I live in a rural area, so it's not too dangerous, but it's something to do.
  - nitrogen 7y ago
    Definitely fun, but do keep in mind the amount of noise that generates and keep it to a minimum when within a mile of people. I used to live on a rural road with like six other houses, and people going 100 down a 35 with houses does get kind of old.
    - rpmisms 7y ago
      I have my favorite empty county roads. No houses for miles, great visibility. I prefer going to the south and driving on old banked mountain roads, though. Most people can't even get to the speed limit safely on those.
- SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
  Euro Truck Simulator is basically meditation without having to think about your breathing.
rezeroed 7y ago
Not for me. Congestion - no agency. No congestion - restricted to following the demarcated path. And cars are clumsy - three point turn. Don't like them.
- rpmisms 7y ago
  I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you're European?
nickjj 7y ago
> Yes, driving is a good de-stressor, probably because it gives you more agency when you feel powerless. Until you approach that intersection where there's a 90 second red light that you can't control which you always seem to get stuck at. And when you're 4 cars back from that light, there's a 10 second delay to move when it turns green because everyone in front of you is on their cell phone and now the light turns red again just before it's your turn to go but you can't gun it through the red light at the last second because there's traffic cameras at every angle. That's just in typical suburban areas of the US. You're pretty much at the whim of the organization who controls the lights, the government for having traffic cams and every human being in front of you. It's a very non-controllable situation unless you're open to making decisions that will get your license revoked and maybe get put in prison.
- ChuckNorris89 7y ago
  Agreed x1000. I love driving at night when it's quiet and I'm alone on the streets and the lights are green, changing the gears on my stick shift, feeling the machinery work. It's like mediation, it helps me unwind. During commuter traffic? Hell no, can't really think of anything worse I could be doing voluntarily than being stuck in traffic and watching pedestrians walk by. I feel trapped, like I have no escape and no control over my life. Recently I took a substantial pay cut to work somewhere in the city where I can commute by bike. From my mental health perspective it was totally worth it.

I recently setup a racing sim rig and love to just cruise around after work as I don't have a real car. Absolutely de-stresses me.

rpmisms 7y ago
That's probably smarter than my after-work "tire warmups". In the winter here, I tend to slide around corners, too. I live in a rural area, so it's not too dangerous, but it's something to do.
- nitrogen 7y ago
  Definitely fun, but do keep in mind the amount of noise that generates and keep it to a minimum when within a mile of people. I used to live on a rural road with like six other houses, and people going 100 down a 35 with houses does get kind of old.
  - rpmisms 7y ago
    I have my favorite empty county roads. No houses for miles, great visibility. I prefer going to the south and driving on old banked mountain roads, though. Most people can't even get to the speed limit safely on those.
SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
Euro Truck Simulator is basically meditation without having to think about your breathing.

rezeroed 7y ago

Not for me. Congestion - no agency. No congestion - restricted to following the demarcated path. And cars are clumsy - three point turn. Don't like them.

rpmisms 7y ago
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you're European?

nickjj 7y ago

> Yes, driving is a good de-stressor, probably because it gives you more agency when you feel powerless. Until you approach that intersection where there's a 90 second red light that you can't control which you always seem to get stuck at. And when you're 4 cars back from that light, there's a 10 second delay to move when it turns green because everyone in front of you is on their cell phone and now the light turns red again just before it's your turn to go but you can't gun it through the red light at the last second because there's traffic cameras at every angle. That's just in typical suburban areas of the US. You're pretty much at the whim of the organization who controls the lights, the government for having traffic cams and every human being in front of you. It's a very non-controllable situation unless you're open to making decisions that will get your license revoked and maybe get put in prison.

ChuckNorris89 7y ago
Agreed x1000. I love driving at night when it's quiet and I'm alone on the streets and the lights are green, changing the gears on my stick shift, feeling the machinery work. It's like mediation, it helps me unwind. During commuter traffic? Hell no, can't really think of anything worse I could be doing voluntarily than being stuck in traffic and watching pedestrians walk by. I feel trapped, like I have no escape and no control over my life. Recently I took a substantial pay cut to work somewhere in the city where I can commute by bike. From my mental health perspective it was totally worth it.