Some people really resent a long haul into the office every day. Me? I love it. It’s a time when the only thing I need to do is focus on the road — no meetings, no cleaning, no projects, just me and the road.
For those who take public transit to work every day, making the most of that time is easy, but what happens when you’re behind the wheel? How do you make the most of your time when you still have to focus on the road?
There are a few ways you can unwind and get your brain geared up for focus on a long drive, without taking your mind completely off the road.
#1 — Listen to a Podcast
Podcasts and audiobooks are a great way to absorb new information on long drives — just make sure to listen through your car’s audio system and not a pair of headphones.
Make sure to pick something lighthearted and easily digestible, so that you can listen to it with half focus without getting completely lost. If it requires your full focus and concentration, it’s probably best listened to while doing something other than driving.
#2 — Mentally Unload
At the end of a long, stressful day at the office, a long drive back home is actually exactly what your mind needs to transition from the office to the home. Use this time to work through the problems and challenges you faced, and actively check them off your list of things to worry about.
Most importantly, this is an exercise in the art of letting go. Run through those problems, remember that there are some things that are outside of your control, and ask yourself what you can do to make tomorrow less stressful.
#3 — Take the Scenic Route
If you have timing rush hour traffic down to a science, good for you, but if not, opt instead to take your chances with a longer, less crowded route to work, and make it a drive you actually enjoy. Budget extra time, watch for wildlife, and instead of focusing on getting there, focus on enjoying the journey.
#4 — Let It Out
I know you’re a professional, and that in most cases, you wouldn’t be caught dead headbanging in your car, but here’s the thing: clearing pent up emotions is a GREAT way to get more productive, so let go of your pride, and turn up the volume.
Put on some music that jams with your mood, blast it, and lean into those rhythms and lyrics as a means of letting go of stress, anxiety — whatever’s weighing you down that day.
#5 — Rehearse a Meeting
I’ve totally been that crazy person talking to themselves at red lights, and you know what? I’ve totally rocked those meetings I’ve rehearsed. No matter how crazy it feels to have a challenging conversation with yourself, rehearsing meetings is a great way to get comfortable with a conversation before it happens.
Take some of the pressure off, and get comfortable with saying what needs to be said to close the deal today.
#6 — Recite Affirmations
Once upon a time, affirmations were reserved for the woo-woo community of crystal healing and tarot cards. However, as thought leaders like Scott Adams come out of the woodwork and tout the success of visualizing what you want, the message is clear: this crazy stuff might actually work.
Get your affirmations figured out, and on the commute to work (without getting too lost in your goal visualization of course), recite those affirmations until you actually start to believe them.
#7 — Be Prepared
Nothing puts a crimp in your day like leaving without what you need. Always have what you need for work the next day packed up and at the ready the night before, but more than that, have your car stocked too.
This list of essentials will keep you from losing your mind next time you run into unexpected trouble on the road:
- Engine oil and a funnel
- Paper towels
- Antifreeze
- Drinking water
- Shelf-stable snacks (like protein bars)
- Sunglasses
- A clean pair of socks
- Windshield scraper
- Snow shovel (depending on your region)
- Kitty litter (for getting stuck on the ice)
#8 — Make It Your ‘You’ Time
I’m a mom, so I know what it is to have a screaming baby in the backseat and food wrappers littering the floor. That said, a clean car is a retreat from the stressors of your day on the way to work, so keep yours tidy, and you’ll enjoy the ride all the more.
Fun accessories like plug-in essential oil diffusers help set the mood for a productive day. Make your car your happy place, with creature comforts like a massaging cushion, and give yourself a reason to look forward to your commute every day.
What do you love most about your daily drive? Tell us on Facebook or Instagram, and tag us in the post! @JandSVision or #JandSVision
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