An interesting dichotemy - the local vs the macro. You have your goal to reach, and you'll try to get their as fast as possible. Find perceived straight lines and slam on the gas. Yet, the meandering around is what helps learn the landscape in the long run, not the straight lines.

Perceived because you might think you're taking shortcuts at first, but you might just be sending yourself into circles trying to leave the forest. Even worse, your overconfidence developed from using those shortcuts can make you even more lost when you don't have access to them and the stakes are high. You want to be lost at your own volition, not when the forest monster is stalking you.