Traffic in and around the city can turn out to be a nightmare. For the most part, it leaves us with stress and frustration. It’s important to reduce stress to a minimum for several reasons.
Why You Should Reduce Stress + How To Do It (Post Coming Soon!)
Driving, specifically commuting, can spike stress levels through the roof. I travel to and from locations for my job almost every day! I work all around New England from MA to CT and find traffic everywhere I go. Maybe there is a way for us to make the most of our long drives.
These are my favorite ways to enjoy the ride…
Turn Up The Tunes
The radio can get annoying when all you hear is commercials between songs. Some stations offer commercial-free play during peak driving times while others do not. Creating a playlist of your favorite songs to sing to-and-from your destination is the way to go.
Spotify Premium is the way to go! I only pay around $10 per month to stream unlimited music and playlists. You create a playlist at home and download them so you don’t use data while driving. This way, you won’t waste loads of data and can control which music you listen to.
Pro Tip: Make at least 5 playlists of songs you enjoy. I usually separate by mood. Try a few to see what works!
Play a Podcast
Podcasts are a great way to distract yourself on a long car ride. You won’t want to get out until it’s over! You can stream and download them from the web and through iTunes.
For example, Spartan now has a podcast that fans can listen to on all obstacle course races, ninja warrior-esque activities, etc. Finding a podcast catered towards your interests is key.
Let me know if you find one I should listen to 🙂
Download an Audio Book
Books can be downloaded from iTunes and Audible. Audible offers your first book free and has thousands of popular choices. Books can be returned if you don’t like them or kept forever! It’s about $15/month for a subscription with 30% off orders.
You can listen anytime, anyplace. You can choose a narrator that best suits your style. The narrators really make the stories come alive! Good books can pass the time and offer the obvious educational benefits.
Use an Air Freshener
Having soothing smells in the car will help you to relax. Certain smells are known for targeting + relaxing the senses. Air fresheners can be purchased at pretty much every store! Yankee Candle has great options in a wide variety of scents.
Try these scents to remain cool & collected on your drive:
Cinnamon, Pine, Citrus, Vanilla, Mint, and Lavender
Have any tips for me? Comment below!