The Safe Driver

How to de-stress during your daily commute

There’s no question the past few years have given us a variety of traffic conditions. When people were working from home, the traffic became much lighter and driving became less difficult. However, times have changed…again. It almost seems the roads have become busier now that they were before the pandemic. Personally, my commute time has increased and for some people that may lead to frustration, poor decision-making, aggressive driving and perhaps even road raging. With all of the recent changes of traffic patterns, what can we do as drivers to calm down and make better choices behind the wheel?

I think one of the first steps is, since we know the roads are busier, leaving a little sooner helps to avoid peak rush hour traffic. It gives you a bit more time to reach your destination. Yes, we would prefer to have a shorter commute but if we already know the heavier traffic is slowing us down and extending our commute, why not adjust and give yourself more time. Leaving 15 minutes sooner can make a difference.

Don’t sweat the little stuff. If another driver is doing something which can be considered annoying, let it go. Make adjustments in your driving such as changing lanes or adjusting speed so you can avoid them. Consider it to be out of sight, out of mind. If your attention is focused on them, your attention has been removed from the driving environment. Even for 5 or 10 seconds, that can increase your risk of a collision. Also, we’re not always sure why someone drove the way they did. Relax and move on. They may have tried to avoid someone or something which may cause a collision to them. It’s time to be less judgmental.

Another way to reduce the frustration is attempt to adjust your start and end time for work. Speak with your employer about starting sooner or later so you can avoid the rush hour traffic, or at least some of it. That adjustment can help to relieve some stress of heavy traffic and even shorten your commute. After some time, you’ll be more accustomed to the time change.

Have you ever thought about carpooling? Sharing the ride with someone else, or multiple people benefits you in many ways. You can read while someone else drives, therefore you’re not paying attention to the little things which annoy you when you’re driving. It can also save you wear and tear on your vehicle, plus you’ll spend less on fuel on a monthly basis. Sounds like a win-win situation.

Maybe, just maybe driving a different route may have less traffic. Sometimes fewer traffic jams means less stress and frustrations. Even if the speed limit is lower, the less traffic can help you reach your destination in a timely manner. And be honest, sometimes the variety of your travels can lift your spirits.

In today’s society, we are quite fortunate to have books, talk shows, and lessons available to be downloaded and played back at our convenience. If you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting in traffic, why not use it to learn a new language, listen to an audiobooks or listen to a good podcast. It helps to relax your mind and reduce stress while driving at any time.

Now it’s up to you. You have to tools and suggestions to help you de-stress during your daily commute. You can just sit there and complain or you can adjust. It’s up to you.