A Mindful Driving Exercise To Help Busy People Avoid Racing Through Life On Cruise Control
When I learned to drive, I worried I might not ever be able to do it without thinking about every detail.
Now, I can get where I need to while eating a snack, listening to a podcast, and contributing mentally to the conversation.
As psychology professor and author Lisa Feldman Barrett explains:
“Everyone who’s ever learned a skill, whether it’s driving a car or tying a shoe, knows that things that require effort today become automatic tomorrow with enough practice.”
Being able to do things automatically saves time and energy, but it can be good to switch off cruise control sometimes.
We’ve all arrived at places without remembering the drive.
This makes a great metaphor for living with our senses dulled by familiarity.
If you’re too busy to add meditation to your routine, driving mindfully can be a powerful way to practice experiencing the richness of ordinary moments.
Keep your eyes on the road
For part or all of a drive, do what you can to make seeing what’s on the other side of your windshield your top priority.
As with any mindfulness exercise, the pull of more entertaining content will be strong. Try turning off the radio to see if you actually miss it.
Notice the way mental movies obstruct your view
When you realize scenes in your mind have become your main focus, gently slide your attention back out to seeing the world in front of you.
Gently redirecting your attention in this way will reveal that you don’t have to close your eyes to be mindful.
