Whenever you go to a new place you'll you expect to return to, wander around for a bit. Lap the exterior of an area, take a gander down every side path and try every door. Inside buildings, look for any bathrooms, exits, elevators/stairs, and any other significant locations. For large areas, skim a map for anything unusual or unexpected that you missed as well.
Even if you don't think you have any reason to be in a specific spot, take a look. Unless you're in a heavily secured or dangerous area there's no downside and it only takes a minute or two. It's much easier to settle in a new place when it's surrounded by places you've been even briefly, rather than being surrounded by unknown everywhere besides the main path. Harder to get lost too, since you can distinguish vaguely near/familiar places from completely unknown.
There's also many things you won't find unless you actively seek them out. Only going exactly where you need to go as you need to go there may be sufficient, but it's often inefficient. You might recognize a shortcut which would otherwise seem disconnected because you saw it from the opposite side, or find a more convenient entrance to a building than you normally take.
Optimizing routing, whether for speed, shade, or convenience, only works if you already know all the available options, but it's never going to suddenly be a good time to try an alternative. Bake in the habit early and you get to reap the benefits every subsequent time.
Your first time somewhere is the best time to go scouting since it's when you have the most need of the knowledge and you plausible deniability in case you end up somewhere you shouldn't be. Don't do anything unreasonable or try to trespass of course, but if you do accidentally it's better to be obviously be new and lost. If you have a tendency to get lost, you can break it up and only venture slightly further out of the way each time.
- Rew
Nightly Notes
Tired, so tired. Excited too, though.
Setting new routines is rough. Had to switch around my designated writing time. Probably for the better, blocks the worst of the procrastination.
- Rew