I was a speed demon. I drove over the speed limit constantly. A realization came to me that I was pushing leaving on time (I run early to everything) to get where I needed to be. This was causing undue anxiety.
Recently, I have decided to try to be more aware of my carbon footprint. I looked into the connection between driving slower and saving gas. Most is anecdotal evidence. The Federal and State of Missouri Department of Transportation do say that you start losing mileage at speeds over 50. However, the number is miniscule enough and doesn’t exponentially grow, so really other things can save on gas in a more significant way. Such as not idling and smooth braking.
Between this information and my realization of what was causing extra anxiety I decided to drive slower. Before on the highway I drove between 73 to 78. Now I drive between 65 and 68. The results of this change have been amazing. I don’t feel nearly as frantic and rushed. I have time to clear my mind and focus on the day. I am getting ready to leave a bit earlier but really I don’t need to. And I think my gas mileage is a tad bit better.
Slowing down my driving seeped into other areas of my life as well. I am more aware of my breathing and how I hold tension in certain areas of my body. In this series of blogs I talk about time being a construct and the positive changes in my life. If someone wants to try any of these techniques I highly recommend starting with slowing down in life (driving or otherwise).