Depending on who you ask, escapism is a term that cuts both ways. Everyone needs diversion throughout the day, week, or month, and those activities are crucial. For some, that means sitting down with a book, but since we’re a motorcycle publication, there’s a strong chance you didn’t stumble here due to your deep fascination with Fabergé eggs. Motorcyclists can probably collectively agree that our beloved machines, to some degree or another, have a unique ability to go from simple commuting vehicles to a rowdy source of entertainment quite easily. Put more directly, my pickup truck doesn’t spark the same kind of joy in my life and is a tool of necessity.

There are times when self-indulgence probably isn’t the most prudent path. Case in point: If you were to shirk responsibilities such as work, school, or child-rearing for a several-hundred-mile ride on your local canyon roads, there would be inevitable consequences. As enjoyable as it may be, that is typically frowned upon by employers, educational institutions, and offspring. Now, the irresponsible part of my psyche (which is a significant part) definitely supports the idea of going for a spin instead of pushing paper or turning wrenches in order to stack my dimes.

Now, we don’t want to be presumptuous with our recommendations here. Heading off on a grand adventure isn’t practical or even feasible most of the time. So, let’s dig into life suggestions that are attainable for everyone, regardless of means. Let’s take a small, logical leap and assume that you happen to own a motorcycle, one that’s in (mostly) roadworthy condition. Good? Good.

Long weekend rides, extended trips, and the like are all well and good. They’re fantastic, actually, but they’re time-consuming. And so, a recent trend in mileage on the odometers that come around this garage is to zip out for spirited solo missions on some nearby curvy roads. Now, I’ll fully admit I have ulterior motives, as testing bikes and gear is what I’m here to do. Still, the exercise has put me in the saddle far more often than not. See, a quick errand suddenly becomes an opportunity to hit my speedy little loop and realistically only extends the trip by about 15 minutes.

All right, all right, I hear you, dear reader: “But I don’t live near a cool string of roads that have a conveniently low law enforcement presence.” Okay, so what do you have? Well, let’s take your lunch break, for example. That’s a daily opportunity to rip down the road to your favorite eatery and pick something up, or, if you’re keeping tabs on your tire budget, then maybe you’ll take off for a blast to a nice spot to grab a bite in a tree-shaded park. Having been part of the bleary-eyed workforce that bathed in fluorescent office lights in the past, let me proudly say that any reprieve, no matter how brief, was very welcome.

Maximizing your “you” time is what I say, folks. We have all struggled at one point or another to achieve the Zen-like work-life balance that many an internet guru says exists. Personally, that one seems to escape my grasp, though there are ways to manage things and still enjoy a bit of sun (or maybe crisp nighttime air, whatever you prefer).

A gimme when chewing this topic’s fat is the ride to and from work, if you happen to be required on site at your place of employment. This suggestion tends to fall flat with those who work from home offices, mainly because rolling out of bed and sitting in front of a disabled webcam is the only commuting the lucky devils will be doing that day. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t partake in my fair share over the years.

Alas, we’re all familiar with the time-honored long-way-home routine. Of course, it would be faster to jump on the freeway and beeline it back to the barn, but why do that when a twisty road can get you there a little slower and with a lot more entertainment?

That brings us to a close, friends, and maybe a bit of rumination about our American marketplace. Here, motorcycles are viewed by the common man as a luxury, recreation, or a combination of the two. From that view, things start to line up quite handily for escapism.

Take the opportunities you’re afforded, be they big or small, and make the most of every single one.