Mental Health, Stress, and Driving: How to Stay Calm on Your Daily Commute

Nov 1, 2023

Let’s talk about stress and driving.

We’ve all been there before: stuck in a traffic jam with no end in sight when you’ve got a million places to be, errands to run, and not enough time to get it all done with lengthy waits. You feel anxious, antsy, frustrated, and more than a little overwhelmed. And then of course there’s the factor of life in a post pandemic lockdown world; people are having to relearn how to be a defensive driver all over again after so many years of “WFH Life!” Coupling those ‘back to the grind” adjustments with the average commuter frustrations and roadway hazards, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. In these moments, it can be easy to let the stress overtake you and give in to a case of Road Rage, but the better path to take is a little in-car stress management.

It can be hard to get back into the swing of things and return to our defensive driving habits; there’s a lot to get used to again as you return to your usual commute and contend with other drivers, but let’s make an effort to work together to reduce our driving stress and keep the roads a safer place as we practice courteous, conscious driving habits.

Since today is National Stress Awareness day, we’re shedding some light on ways you can destress and refocus your energy to help you drive safely, stay calm on the road, and prevent stress related accidents. Let’s see if we can’t collectively reduce the anxiety for the 66% of Americans who experience driving anxiety on the regular with these healthy habits. Utilizing these mindful driving techniques may even reduce your cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, which have been shown to elevate during times of stressful driving! What’s not to love about that?

Improve your Mental Health and reduce driving stress with these pointers:

Make sure you have something to eat and are properly hydrated before you hit the road. It’s no surprise that so many of us report feeling “hangry” when we’re not properly fed, and making sure that you have an adequate meal or at least a snack before commuting can reduce your stress levels significantly. Keeping a small stash of shelf stable snacks and small water bottles in your car easily within reach can also help stave off the grumpy feelings when your tummy is grumbling behind the wheel.
Practice mindful breathing techniques at home and in the office before you hit the road. Setting an intent to practice deep, conscious breathing exercises can make it easier to employ the techniques when you’re on the road. Focus on calm, controlled breaths by inhaling slowly through your nose, and exhaling slowly through your mouth. If you find yourself caught up in a moment of frustration with another driver, do some deep breathing for a slow count of 5 in and out breaths. You’ll notice very quickly how your nervous system responds favorably, releasing tension from your nerves and muscles, and relaxing your body.
Always make sure to build in an extra 15 to 20 minutes buffer time into your trips. Whether you’re commuting to work or school, on your way to a leisure activity, or even a doctor’s appointment, having that extra time to play with can really reduce your stress. Instead of panicking about tardiness, you know you’ll have plenty of time to account for unexpected delays such as traffic, accidents, or other roadway hazards. This buffer of time will also allow you to notify employers or other parties with enough time for them to accommodate your delay should any occur.

Adhere to posted traffic rules and speed limits to reduce tension. Keeping to posted traffic speeds and obeying road signs can reduce our tension, increase our focus on the changing traffic patterns, and allows plenty of time to stop short to prevent accidents. You’re not qualifying for a NASCAR race, so there’s no need to try to “beat the clock” and go over the speed limit.

Practice mindful driving and focus solely on the road, avoiding distractions inside the vehicle. It’s okay to sing along to the music on your car stereo if that makes you happy, but be sure to stay focused enough on the cars and environment around you. Distracted driving can cause significant accidents and increase stress due to unawareness. We all know the dangers of texting and driving can increase accident risk even more than drunk driving.So let’s do our part to reduce stress and anxiety by keeping our eyes on the road and off of our phones, devices, and infotainment screens.
Switch up your usual commuting routine by alternating your drive with other methods of transportation. Break up the monotony and stress of the daily drive by opting in for public transportation such as bus, rail, ride-shares, or even bicycling if your commute allows for it. Taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle routine of highways and byways can make a world of difference for your mental health. The shake up in our normal routine can give us something fresh and new to focus on. Utilizing mass public transit options can even provide us a little relief from having to be focused on the commute and instead enjoy some relaxing hobbies while someone else takes the wheel.