Mental Health Debt

As mentioned briefly in point one, it’s no secret that exercise is a beneficial component to our daily lives. The CDC recommends that adults average 150 minutes of exercise a week (how many of us achieve that). Not only does exercise release endorphins, but it also contributes to our self image, between becoming toned and feeling accomplished. Cars (especially in the suburbs) cart us directly from location to location, with minimal steps required between vehicle and destination. In fact, most are frustrated at an inability to get a close parking spot. When my family visited New Jersey, there were several people who camped out in parking spots in order to save them for their families because they were such a valuable resource. Of course, this adds stress when you come upon a seemingly empty parking spot, only for it to be taken up by a compact car or a child waiting for their parents to circle back around and park.

Frustration, anger, and road rage are a common part of the daily commute in a major city. Unless you implement what many people do in Boston and work 5AM to 2PM to miss the major rush hours. Sustainable for some, not for all. If there was a reasonably efficient alternative that ran consistently …. Perhaps there would be a way to enjoy the commute and also get a small walk in. I wonder what that could be …

Finally, in higher density areas, there are more opportunities to socialize and exist in a space with others. The latter does not refer to actively socializing and talking, but enjoying the atmosphere. The YouTube channel NotJustBikes talks about this – the Third Place. The place such as a coffee shop, where you can exist in a group of people without speaking. In the suburbs, people claim “ I don’t like other people, I like the privacy of my own home.” Although for a small minority this may be true, I think that most people say this because there is no easily accessible area for suburbanites to enjoy that they can’t drive to.

For example, think about how much our isolation has increased in the last twenty years. Where I grew up in, in a suburb of Cleveland, the houses were spread out and it was difficult to meet other kids. However, where the area that my dad grew up in, the houses were still single family, but much smaller and closer spaced together. He always talked about how much him and his friends hung out and played soccer together, and I wish that was my experience. I believe that between sprawling housing and social media, kids are becoming increasingly isolated and depressed because they have no access to the real world.