Living at 15mph
What happens when you stop hurrying your life
A year ago, my wife and I made the decision to forgo purchasing a second car. Despite moving across the United States from Georgia to Colorado, we ultimately decided against making the investment in another vehicle due to the high cost1 and our recent move. As it turned out, adjusting to a car-free lifestyle was relatively easy for me. The majority of my responsibilities are remote, and when I do need to travel to the office or attend a program, it's typically after my wife has returned from teaching at the local elementary school.
In lieu of a second car, I opted for a bicycle. Although it's powered by a small battery, the pedal assist doesn't exceed 15 miles per hour. Living at this slower speed has taught me a few valuable lessons that I'd like to share with you.
Plan Ahead
One of the biggest lessons I've learned from living with a 15mph travel limit is the importance of intentional planning. Without the convenience of a car at my disposal, I must be deliberate in my daily schedule and plan ahead. Whether it's allowing enough time to bike to meetings or coordinating with public transportation, I can no longer rely on the flexibility and control that a car provides. While some may see this as a limitation, I've found that it's actually reduced my tendency to make unnecessary trips to the supermarket or detours to Taco Bell.
In fact, this deliberate planning has now become a key part of how I approach work. Rather than making decisions on the fly, I now started to meticulously detail my schedule and tasks, step by step. Here is an example from my Monday evenings:
Pickleball (Monday)
Check [School]’s websiteÂ
If there is an activity on Monday, then cancel Pickleball
Otherwise, send the following:Â
Hey all!Â
We are excited to invite you to join us for a game of Pickleball tonight at [school]! The game will start at 6:30 pm, and we would love to have you there with us.
Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can prepare accordingly. We hope to see you there for an enjoyable evening!
Wait and see who responds.
Open the gym with card key or pin
Take out pickleball nets and paddles
Play
Put pickleball nets and paddles away in [organization’s] closet
Being precise and intentional in my planning not only helps me evaluate what I can realistically accomplish in a given day but also enables me to delegate tasks to others who are capable of completing them. By providing a detailed checklist or step-by-step process, I make it easier for others to understand and complete tasks that don't necessarily require my personal attention.
In addition to delegation, this intentional approach to planning also helps me prioritize my responsibilities and adjust my workload based on external factors such as travel time and weather, rather than simply rushing through my to-do list. This has allowed me to achieve greater productivity and balance in both my work and personal life. While I'm not perfect and there are still days when unexpected tasks or events arise, my intentional planning process has given me a sense of control and organization that I never had before.
Notice Life Around
When we're in a hurry, we tend to become self-absorbed and fail to notice what's happening around us. I've noticed that when I'm driving on the interstate, trying to go 5 miles above the speed limit (😉) to get to my destination faster, I become fixated on finding the lane with the least amount of cars and pay little attention to the people and places around me. In contrast, when I ride my bike, I'm forced to slow down and take in my surroundings. I notice the shops on the streets, the people walking around, and even the people in the cars. This slower pace has allowed me to experience my surroundings more fully and be present in the moment.
Slowing down has also helped me notice what's truly important in my life and what's not. For example, after teaching a class at my local school for a year, I realized that it wasn't productive for me or the students. Although I had taken on the responsibility to help the school with content production, it wasn't aligned with my main responsibilities and it consumed both my energy and time. Instead of delegating the task, I chose to eliminate it altogether after realizing it wasn't beneficial for anyone.
Slowing down has helped me notice what's important and what's not, and to renegotiate my responsibilities to align with my values. Rather than rushing through tasks just because they're part of the job description, I take the time to evaluate what truly gives me satisfaction and fulfillment. For example, I plan to continue going to the school and spending time with the students, but instead of teaching a class, I'll be playing chess and teaching critical thinking skills informally, which is more aligned with my interests and values.
Processing Time
The last benefit of bike commuting that I've experienced is the time it provides for me to process my day. When we use faster modes of transportation, we tend to rush from one place to another without much time to reflect on what has happened throughout our day. However, by riding at a slower speed, my commute gives me ample time to think about what went right and wrong and to adjust my approach accordingly.
This processing time is crucial for productivity and creativity. In a world that bombards us with endless information, having time to digest ideas and reflect is essential for any type of work. The space created by my bike ride allows me to bring new solutions to the workplace and showcase problem-solving skills. Additionally, sometimes it's a welcome escape and a chance to listen to music or simply ride in silence to create a moment of stillness in my day and take a break from the craziness of life.
In summary, it's not necessary to rush through life. By being deliberate and eliminating tasks that don't bring satisfaction, we can make time to process our experiences and create new pathways to fulfillment and productivity. Hope you are able to slow down today and notice what truly matters in life :)
https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/cost-of-car-ownership/