4 ms·
> 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 9
by 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 agoAgreed 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.