In the real world, that is outside the flight school make believe bubble after you get your license, you hit direct to after clearing the airport zone and then cross check the paper map for landmarks every once and awhile to keep your personal situational awareness.
And depending on where you are when you hit "direct to" you may or may not then end up busting airspace.
Which is why I hit "direct to" on the ground, and after take-off regain the planned airspace-avoiding track.