When travelling with my family as a child, my dad would often want to take a "shortcut.” Plotted out on a paper map, shortcuts involved less distance travelled, always took longer, and usually brought us to places that travelers on the main highway never saw. Sorry, I can't tell you where that secret fishing hole we found on a shortcut is.
Nowadays, Alexa always knows the best route, but the mode of transportation you use can reduce your environmental impact, reduce driving stress, and show you places Alexa has never heard of. My go-to if I have to go is the bicycle. Our amazing bike paths should be a national park, or at least a national monument.
When you get to your meeting 5 minutes late, ask the others if they saw a heron catch a fish while they were driving on the freeway. Leave 5 minutes earlier, see the heron, and get to the meeting on time. Bicycle parking is always easy to find - as opposed to automobile parking - and it's usually closer to the door and free - there's your five minutes back - and a couple of dollars too.
For even easier parking, and a more relaxing experience, walk. There are wonderful cut through paths and backstreet routes that can get you where you want to go - and with no unsightly exhaust fumes in your wake.
And in the same way you can substitute a bike for a car, substitutions at home can eliminate unnecessary trips. A tablespoon of ground flax seed and 3 tablespoons of water mixed can replace an egg after sitting for five minutes. Out of lemon juice? Substitute vinegar or white wine for cooking - but not at the lemonade stand.
Next time you're trying to cram too many errands into too little time, take a shortcut. You may be surprised by the benefits. "Wow, you are on time - and relaxed too."
