The shortcut through the woods always looks shorter on the way in.

Every shortcut is convincing at the entrance because you can see the saving and not the cost. The unknown part is unknown by definition, so your brain fills it with the smooth version, and the roots and the wrong turn show up later. Known routes are boring precisely because you already paid for the information.

Before you take the faster path, ask whether you have actually done it before or only looked at it. If you have not, take the long way once and notice what the shortcut would have hidden. Save the risk for when the stakes are low.