1. Leave Early for Work
Leaving home and being on the road much earlier than usual will help relieve a lot of stress. If you leave with plenty of time to spare, you will avoid any worry about getting to work late. Furthermore, leaving early may get you earlier than expected and this is likely to impress your superiors at work.
You should consider leaving at least 15 minutes earlier than usual to help with a long commute. It can also be a good idea to allow extra time to fill up your tank and plan ahead for the days when you will need to do it.
2. Create an Environment That’s Comfortable
Making your car ride more enjoyable can be helpful during a long commute. Think of the kind of entertainment that you can utilize during a long commute and which is likely to be most beneficial to help get your mind off the intense traffic and long commute.
Listen to your favorite music that suits your mood, from acoustic tunes to upbeat songs. Listen to an audiobook that helps you learn something new or an engaging podcast, which could save you additional personal time by learning while driving.
It can also be a good idea to spend your commute calling your family and friends hands-free through the car’s speakers.
You can also make the commute more bearable by packing a portable essential oil diffuser to breathe in calming oils such as cedarwood or lavender while driving to work. It will help you relax and clear your mind before getting to your workplace.
3. Be Strategic
It can also be beneficial to be strategic. You can be strategic in several different ways depending on your specific location and commute. For instance, consider the days with the heaviest traffic and prepare to leave for work earlier than usual on the days when more traffic is anticipated.
You should also consider any toll roads and how they are likely to affect the route you take. In some cases, they can make the trip costlier, but can help you get to work or back home earlier.
If you are at a new job with a long commute, you should consider scoping out the quickest routes to take before your first day and then save those routes in a GPS app on your phone or in your vehicle’s system. It is also important to consider the public transportation options available to you. Planning the commute strategically will ultimately make a big difference.
4. Try Carpooling or Public Transportation
If you find it too stressful to drive long distances, you should consider the public transportation options available to you. While it may take you longer and cost you more to get to your destination, it may give you additional time to yourself to clear your head and ease any worries you might have about dealing with traffic. Many companies also offer free public transportation too.
You can also drive yourself for several days of the week and use public transportation for the rest. The time that you would have spent driving should be spent listening to a playlist, reading a book, or preparing for your day’s work, upcoming presentations, or meetings. You can even take a short nap while using public transportation.
You can even consider carpooling with coworkers that live in your area to ease the burden of having to drive yourself. For some people, it may even be sensible to get rid of your car.
5. Pack Food and Beverages
If you find yourself hungry during the commute or didn’t have time for breakfast, packing snacks can provide you with a quick pick-me-up. Pack snacks that are healthy, energizing, and full of protein as opposed to greasy or starchy food. You should also carry water with you.
If you bring snacks along for the ride, you will most likely have a more positive attitude. Bringing your own food or coffee can also save you the additional time of having to stop off at a drive-through.
6. Limit Technology
You should consider limiting or completely eliminating your technology time before heading out on your commute. This includes not checking your social media accounts, email, or answering any incoming calls.
Take some quiet time to yourself both prior to and during the commute to give your mind enough time to rest and recharge before walking into a long day at work.
7. Determine Your Job Satisfaction
Lastly, if the commute still feels too long no matter how hard you try implementing coping mechanisms, you should consider whether it is actually worth it. If you would like to advance with the specific company that you are working for, then a long commute could definitely be worth it.
If you are unhappy with your position, however, and don’t feel that you are being paid enough to outweigh the financial and emotional cost of commuting, you should consider finding a new job that has a shorter commute, or allows you to work remotely, which has become an increasingly popular option.
If you want to stay with your current company, consider asking your superiors at work whether remote working is an option, even for just a couple of days every week to ease your commute burden.
Disclosure: collaborative post
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