Why Life’s Detours Can Be the Best Thing for Your Wellbeing

Let’s talk about life’s detours, shall we? Imagine you’re on a long journey—just you, your car, and the open road ahead. You’ve got your route all mapped out, your playlist is on point, and you’re cruising along when... uh oh. That little fuel gauge needle is dipping dangerously close to "E." And guess what? There are no filling stations on your planned route. Not one. Now you’re faced with a choice: take a detour to refuel or keep going and eventually end up pushing your car to the finish line. I don’t know about you, but pushing a car sounds like a workout I did not sign up for.

So, you take the detour. Sure, it wasn’t part of the plan, but while you’re there, you find a cosy little gas station. Maybe it’s got a café attached. You grab some fuel for the car, a snack for yourself, and sit down for a moment to catch your breath. While you’re at it, you pull out a map—or your GPS because it’s 2025—and realize there’s an even smoother route you hadn’t noticed before. One with fewer bumps and better scenery. By the time you’re back on the road, you’re refreshed, re-energized, and maybe even a little excited about this unexpected twist in the journey.

Now, isn’t that just like life? Sometimes, we’re so fixated on our original plan that when things don’t go as expected, it feels like failure. But taking a detour—whether it’s a change in career, a shift in relationships, or just pressing pause to focus on your mental health—isn’t a setback. It’s a chance to refuel, tune up, and find a better path forward.

Think about it: if you’re running on empty, how far can you really go? Pushing yourself to stick to a plan that’s no longer working might get you to the finish line, but not without a lot of unnecessary stress and exhaustion. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is stop, step back, and give yourself permission to change course.

And here’s the funny thing about detours—they often lead to discoveries. Maybe it’s a talent you didn’t know you had, a passion you hadn’t explored, or simply a reminder that it’s okay to slow down. You might even find that the new path is smoother than the one you’d originally planned.

So, the next time life forces you to take a detour, don’t fight it. Embrace it. Use it as an opportunity to refuel—whether that’s rest, reconnecting with yourself, or learning something new. And who knows? That unexpected stop might just turn out to be the best part of your journey.