12 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress When Driving a Car on the Road
The level of stress when driving is closely related to the length of travel time which can be exacerbated by traffic jams or other problems. If not dealt with, stress while driving can cause various bad effects.
Apart from causing body pain, stress can also make you fail to control your emotions when driving a car. For example, driving a car beyond the maximum speed limit or changing lanes carelessly. It's just a matter of time before you end up involved in a fatal accident.
Even though it causes various impacts on health, stress while driving is very difficult to avoid. Reporting from Hellosehat.com, the impact of stress when driving a car can be reduced by doing several things.
1. Changing Perception While Driving
This is the simplest way to deal with stress by realizing that long journeys are something that cannot be avoided. Use the time to think and calm yourself for a moment from various activities that require concentration.
2. Make the car cabin comfortable
Try to be in the cabin like in the family room at home. Keeping the car clean is the main menu because it is uncomfortable to drive in an AC room but there is an unpleasant smell in the car. Add cabin freshener to make the atmosphere more relaxed throughout the trip.
3. Sitting position is as comfortable as possible
The right driving position not only allows you to anticipate all conditions, but also creates a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Try to hold the steering wheel in a relaxed manner, avoid holding positions like you want to hit, which makes you easily provoked by emotions.
4. Listen to Music
Listening to music is one activity that can calm your attention on the road. This is necessary to reduce continuous exposure to sources of stress on the mind. Choose the type of music that you like because it can improve your mood and make you more relaxed.
5. Select Travel Route
Choose a reliable route before relying on digital navigation maps. Including, leaving early to prevent potential unpredictable problems. So you don't need to worry when you encounter a traffic jam.
6. Stretching when stuck
Doing some movements to stretch your muscles can improve blood flow and help you relax more. Do this by contracting the tendons of the feet, fingers and neck. Hold for 8 to 10 seconds repeatedly until the muscles do not feel stiff or become weaker.
7. Eat Healthy Snacks
Providing healthy snacks such as cut fruit can help reduce stress while driving, especially when you are hungry. Provide snacks that contain lots of vitamin C because it can lower blood pressure and keep the production of stress hormones under control.
8. Don't forget to sleep
Optimal energy conditions from getting enough sleep at night can help you deal with stressful situations. Lack of sleep also causes you to be hungrier during the day, and this can add to stress. Avoid activities that can reduce sleep time, such as watching TV or browsing the internet when you come home at night.
9. Walk Early
By leaving early you have more time to spend on the trip. What is no less important is to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams during rush hour. This will also help you be calmer and reduce anxiety when unwanted conditions occur.
10. Wear casual clothes
Provide a change of clothes at work so you can dress casually when you leave and then wear formal clothes when you arrive at the office. That way you will feel relaxed and calm because you haven't felt the work atmosphere yet. When you come home, wear a t-shirt so you feel more relaxed and not carried away by the heavy office atmosphere.
11. Keep your emotions in check
Don't be provoked by emotions when other road users make mistakes such as cutting into your lane. Moreover, they respond to their treatment by carrying out aggressive maneuvers that will actually endanger other road users. Your energy will not be wasted on unimportant things.
12. Pay attention to the condition of the car
A car that is not in prime condition will clearly trigger anger and ultimately stress. It's easiest when the car's AC is off and you have to drive in the heat of the day. Or wastes petrol due to engine problems.
