TAKE THE STAIRS
We like things easy, fast, and cheap. We lose our shit when we’re even a little inconvenienced, and we immediately start looking for ways to simplify, speed up, or remove steps from point A to point B. It’s the American way.
Maybe it’s time we slow down and allow ourselves to enjoy the journey between those two points. When Google Maps says an alternate route is 3 minutes slower but hugs the coast, take the scenic route and enjoy the view.
We have devices that think for us, move our bodies from one place to another, and allow us to do as little as possible. I’m amazed and thrilled that those tools are there for people with no other option, but for the rest of us, maybe we should occasionally go that extra mile.
When you see an escalator or an elevator, take the stairs instead. It’s good for your heart and your waistline. You’ll get back more time in your life than you’ll save by taking an elevator.
For many of us, taking the stairs is the only exercise we get. It’s also a Keystone habit in that it’s a simple thing anyone can do that leads to further healthy habit development. You start taking the stairs, and once you realize you’re making good decisions, you start looking for other ways to improve your health. Maybe you start taking walks or jogging or eating better. Read more about Keystone habits in the Essential Guide to Good Fucking Habits.
Go out of your way. Take the harder path. Prove to yourself that you’re capable and become a stronger, healthier person along the way.
In the words of one of my favorite comedians, Mitch Hedberg, “An escalator can never break; it can only become stairs.” Maybe it’s time to start taking the broken escalator.
