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Last Updated on August 30, 2016 by Diane Hoffmaster
When my husband and I lived in Texas, we lived about 2 to 3 miles from work. We took our motorcycle in or rode our bikes. It was a pleasant trip and we got to work without too much stress. Fast forward a few years and we find ourselves in Atlanta. The houses 'in the city' that were close to my husband's job were way out of our price range so we ended up about 20 miles out of town in the 'burbs'. The commute for my husband was something LESS than enjoyable. In fact, he was seriously miserable having to deal with city traffic every day. Does this sound familiar to you? Do you get home stressed out and cranky because you spend way too much time in your car during rush hour? Well, since most of us can't afford to quit our jobs, making our commutes more enjoyable is a great way to reduce our stress levels. Want to enjoy your commute more? Well, here are a few tips on how to make your commute more enjoyable!
Tips to Make Your Commute More Enjoyable
1. Travel at off-peak hours: See if your boss will let you avoid rush hour traffic by working slightly nontraditional hours.
2. Find a buddy or van pool to share the work: If you only had to drive one way to work, or even drive to work only one or two days out of the week you would be a lot less stressed out. See if you can carpool to reduce stress and the cost of fuel. Find a vanpool and start saving money and reducing stress!
3. Use aromatherapy to help you relax: If you absolutely must drive to and from work every day, add a relaxing smell to your car using aromatherapy. Skip the pine scented air fresheners than can sometimes be a little overwhelming and grab the essential oils instead. Lavender will help you relax and peppermint may help you stay more alert.
4. Telework: Many employers are realizing that a lot of the work that is done in the office can also be done at home! Ask your boss if you can work from home one day a week.
5. Give yourself something to listen to: Whether you subscribe to satellite radio or hit the library for some audio books, keeping your mind engaged during the drive will make it go by faster. Make your commute more enjoyable by learning a new language, listening to a podcast, or rocking out to some oldies...it will make your trip a little less stressful!
6. Give yourself extra time: Most of our stress during our commute stems from being in a hurry to get somewhere. Leave 15 minutes early in the morning to reduce your anxiety.
7. Get off the path most traveled: Reduce stress by exploring alternative routes home. The highway may technically be faster but all that traffic creates an awful lot of stress. Make your commute more enjoyable by finding a side road that is a bit out of the way but much less popular.
8. Bring all the comforts of home: While you aren't going to be bringing your slippers and knitting in the car (unless you are the one in the passenger seat!), make sure you have the essentials in your car to make your commute more comfortable. A beaded seat can help blood flow to your backside and a bottle of water can quench your thirst when you are stuck in a traffic jam. If you want a Starbucks double espresso to keep you awake for the ride home, make sure you bring a reusable travel mug to cut back on unnecessary trash.
Commuting is pretty much a fact of life for most adults. While we may have to spend hours in our car every day, that time doesn't have to be stressful and boring. Make the most of your time in the car and you may find you arrive at work feeling a bit more refreshed!
Have any other tips to make your commute more enjoyable?
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She has two college aged kids, one husband and more pets than she will admit to. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire but left her career in science to become a stay at home mom. Years of playing with LEGO and coloring with crayons had her craving a more grown up purpose to her life and she began blogging and freelance writing full time. You can learn more about her HERE.
Leah
Great tips! I always give myself more than enough time. I freak out if I am late so I just pack my Kindle in my purse and if I happen to be early, I read for a bit.
Scott
Podcasts saved my sanity on my former long drive in California. Over an hour each way every day...
Nancy L.
These are wonderful suggestions - all of them! I never would have thought of aromatherapy, but that would definitely make the commute more enjoyable. I used to have off-hours when I worked at the Cleveland Clinic many years ago. It was the best and least stressful. The earlier the better (except in winter).
Heather Johnson
I liked to listen to the radio when I commuted to work. I would have preferred to take public transit so I could relax.
Robin G.
I'm a traveling teacher for the blind and I spend a lot of my time driving! I listen to the radio a lot, but podcasts have also become the answer to curing a long painful drive!
Thanks for the tips!
Penn&Quill || Robin
Diane
glad you found them helpful!