Most of us don’t exactly look forward to our daily commute. If we could teleport home instead, we’d do it in a heartbeat.
At the end of the day, we just want to be at home, and the only thing standing in our way is a drive that takes much longer than it needs to due to congestion. In many cases, inconsiderate drivers are the cherry on top.
Despite all this, it’s important that you don’t let your anger get the best of you and turn into road rage since that can be dangerous. Here are 6 tips to keep the stress levels down and have a happy commute home.
6 Tips for a Stress-Free Commute
- Get a Head Start: Try and give yourself extra time so you’re not racing against the clock. If you can leave 15-20 minutes early, you’ll likely have less to stress about.
- Be Wary of Engaging With Another Driver: It may seem like no big deal to make a rude gesture or cut off another driver, but remember, there are crazy people in the world! You never know how a stranger is going to react, so it’s best to not engage.
- Live in the Moment: If you stay calm and focus on the present, your drive home can actually be a great place to decompress. Try not to focus so much on stressors at work or home, and instead just place your attention on the drive.
- Plan Ahead: Study your route before you leave, and it’s not a bad idea to identify an alternate route while you’re at it. That way, you’ll be more aware of your directions and will have more energy to focus on the road.
- Make Sure You Get Your Rest: Driving sleep-deprived may seem innocuous, but studies show that it can be similar to driving drunk.
- Just Breathe: When you feel anger rising in your chest, take a deep breath and shift your focus back to your driving.
Often, it’s difficult to keep your cool while driving, but that’s no excuse to drive aggressively. Safety is the most important, plus, there is nothing to be gained from engaging in road rage.