Many people would describe their daily commute as monotonous, time-consuming, and stressful. But would you believe us if we said that your commute could be none of these things? It can be pretty fun! Just apply these five tips for a stress-free commute to make you drive to work something to look forward to.
Tip #1 – Listen to audiobooks and podcasts
If you haven’t given audiobooks or podcasts a try, we cannot recommend it more! Listening to an audiobook or podcast is the easiest way to avoid skipping songs or channel surfing. Instead of getting frustrated as you skip through songs or channel surf, you can just pick one episode or chapter and cruise down the highway!
There really is something out there for everyone. You can listen to podcasts like Stuff You Didn’t Know or listen to books like 250 Random Facts Everyone Should Know and impress your coworkers with a fun fact when you finally get to work. If you need a good laugh, countless awesome options are available, like Trevor Noah’s Born to Crime and Story Pirates.
Bonus Tip: Choose your audiobooks and podcasts carefully. If the subject matter is too high-energy or upsetting, those negative feelings can translate to your behavior on the road. Road rage is never a good way to start the day!
Turn off your phone! Or at least put it on do not disturb.
What’s a surefire way to add some stress to your morning commute? Getting a spam call, a test, or hearing 100 email notifications while your trying to keep your eyes on the road.
Texting and driving contribute to 1.6 million crashes and 390,000 injuries annually. It’s crucial to minimize your phone’s presence in the car. The costs of driving and texting, are huge medical bills, skyrocketing insurance rates, points on your license, and an expensive ticket. You’re safer when you put the phone down.
When you turn your phone off or silence those notifications, you’re guaranteeing a calm commute, and you’re ensuring the safety of yourself and those around you. Just focus on the here and now. Everything else can wait.
Take a break
Longer-than-usual commutes or road trips can really do a number on you. So, when the drive starts to get you down, take a break!
When you’re facing a long journey, it’s tempting to try and power through. Still, this can have disastrous effects on your mood and physical health. The Road Expert recommends taking a 15-minute break every 2-3 hours. This will preserve the integrity of your vehicle and reduce driver fatigue.
These breaks shouldn’t add much time to your drive if you plan your trip. So, stretch your legs, get a snack, and people-watch at rest stops!
Avoid Rush Hour
We all like to joke about our friends who are constantly trying to “beat the traffic,” but they actually have the right idea. Commuters already waste an average of 54 hours a year in traffic; maybe we should all take a page out of our punctual friend’s books.
Whether you leave early to beat the traffic or stay late to let it pass, you’re less likely to get into an accident or experience road rage. So, working around rush hour will save you time and sanity.
Stay on top of car maintenance
Have you ever been driving to work when you hear something weird? Before you know it, your eyes are wide, and you’ve turned your radio off to listen. It’s not a great feeling, and it leaves you anxious for the rest of your drive.
You can avoid this fearful moment just by reading your car’s owner’s manual. Your car’s manufacturer really does know your car inside and out, and they compile a helpful guide to keep your car performing at its best. This is called factory scheduled maintenance.
This is preventative care for your car, just like your physical at the doctor’s office. Factory scheduled maintenance is designed to fix minor car trouble before you need major auto repair. Following the maintenance schedule will help you avoid budget-busting repairs.
Your factory scheduled maintenance plan will include regular oil changes, fluid flushed, tire rotations, and more. When your car is almost due for a factory scheduled service, that’s your cue to visit the Full Circle Auto Repair & Training Center.
You can find a Full Circle repair shop in Halethorpe, Maryland, conveniently located right of 695. If you’re in the 21218 zip code, you’ll find our Waverly shop on Greenmount Avenue, just a few blocks away from Johns Hopkins University. Wherever you are, you can trust our ASE-certified mechanics to deliver affordable car repair.
The best part? Your repair helps us train formerly-incarcerated men and women for careers! Click here to learn more about our mission and how you can change lives.
