This gets a bit deep into mathematical theory… if you’re not into that skip to the third paragraph.

There is an interesting issue with exploration known as the coast paradox. It is problem where the smaller the unit of length used to measure a coast, the longer the coast is. For example, a coast line measured in kilometers is actually longer than if it were measured with miles. Even more so if measured with feet. This is because bends in the path occur more regularly, and as we know, the shortest distance is a straight line. From a mathematical perspective, I find it pretty awesome because as the unit of measure approaches 0 distance becomes infinite, so I move infinite distance every time I paddle, bike, or run. So do you.

The other day, I was leading a group and we seemed to be moving slow. I started to think about the coastline paradox for some reason. But this time I went farther down the rabbit hole. Distance is related to speed, so when the unit of length decreases relative speed increases. In truth, speed does not change nor does the distance, but we can manipulate the measurement by adding folds to the measuring tape.

So why does this matter? If you apply how we can manipulate distance to our perspective, any speed can feel fast paced. A day might drag on if you are using mountains as the reference points, but if you shift your perspective and start using pebbles and seashells as references you might find the day flying past. Although when the end of the day comes you may not have actually left the driveway. I think it is like when you get off of the highway and everything feels super slow until you get used to neighborhood speeds again

After I thought up this madness, I have been applying it to day to day life and reflecting back on days that felt boring. I find it much easier to move at the same speed as other people. Similarly, the days that felt slow I was thinking about something far away.

There is no best speed. Anyone who tells you there is, is trapped in their ways. There can certainly be an appropriate speed. When you are racing that speed is as fast as possible. When traveling with a group, it might be a pace comfortable for people to chat. Exercise speed could be something else.

Next time you are outside play with your perspective a bit. Maybe it will help you enjoy it even more. If it works outside, maybe changing reference points will also work to change perspectives at work reducing the stress from a fast paced environment, or to speed things up on a slow day.

Unfortunately, we have not yet mastered time and space, so you will not be able to apply a perspective shift to workout less and get in shape faster.