Road Rage Isn't the Answer
As sensible a driver as you are, unfortunately, not everyone on the road is the same. You probably can't even count how many times someone cut you off! We get it: sometimes your natural reaction is to go wild on the horn, but patience is a virtue, so why let others ruin your peaceful drive? Let smarter decisions guide your mood. Here are 20 ways to stay cool, calm, and collected behind the wheel.
1. Put On Calming Music
What you listen to can have a major effect on your mood as you drive. If aggressive, fast-paced music tends to make you more restless, switch to something slower or more relaxing when traffic gets heavy. That way, you have something pleasant to focus on besides stressful traffic.
2. Ride with Someone Who Keeps You Levelheaded
Your passengers can also make or break a drive. Instead of ferrying around someone who'll only get on your nerves, pick a person who's patient and reasonable—that might help you laugh off something annoying than dwell on what happened.
3. Listen to an Audiobook
If music doesn't cut it, an audiobook may also help turn an otherwise tedious commute into time you actually look forward to using. Because you're following a story or topic, you'll be less bothered by ordinary delays. Just remember to pick something engaging!
4. Save a Favorite Podcast for the Car
Other than audiobooks, you can also put on a podcast you only listen to while driving. That way, you won't be solely thinking about how long the trip is taking, and you'll have something to enjoy while you're on the road.
5. Keep the Car at a Comfortable Temperature
You'd be surprised how temperature can affect your temper—being too hot, cold, or stuffy can certainly shorten your patience. Physical comfort won't eliminate traffic, of course, but at least you'll feel much more comfortable in your seat.
6. Leave a Little Earlier
Few things make drivers impatient faster than realizing they're going to be late. So don't let bad time management get the best of you; by giving yourself an extra 10 or 15 minutes, you'll remove the urgency that makes every delay seem unbearable. Even a modest buffer can change the entire mood of the trip.
7. Take the Less Stressful Route
The fastest route may also be the more stressful route. If there's another option on hand, taking the longer way could be more worthwhile. Choosing a smoother route can be especially helpful when you already know certain roads test your patience.
8. Clear Out Unnecessary Car Clutter
A messy car can add another layer of irritation when you're already dealing with traffic. Whenever you have time, make it a habit to clean out your junk. Keeping the cabin organized gives you one less source of sensory annoyance to deal with.
9. Put Your Phone Out of Reach
Your phone shouldn't be anywhere near you when you drive, so put it somewhere you won't be tempted to grab it, and enable a driving mode if your device offers one. Fewer interruptions from notifications can help you stay completely focused on the road.
10. Bring Water for Longer Drives
Thirst and general discomfort can make a long drive way less pleasant, so keep a water bottle within reach. Just make sure to store it somewhere you can access safely without taking your attention off the road. If you need more of a boost, vitamin water or coffee is fair game, too.
11. Eat Before a Difficult Commute
You definitely don't want to drive hangry! Doing so will only make ordinary irks much harder to tolerate. If you're heading into rush hour after a long day, treat yourself to a small meal or snack so you stay more even-tempered during your drive home.
12. Don't Take a Pass Personally
Being overtaken doesn't mean you're the worst driver on the planet. If you let things like that get to you, you'll never make it anywhere on time. So brush it off, hold your speed, and just keep driving.
Nursultan Abakirov on Unsplash
13. Turn Off the Traffic Commentary
If you're like some drivers, you might get into the habit of verbally reacting to every mistake you see. But that constant commentary will only keep you on edge. If you notice someone making an error, simply make a note of it and focus on driving safely.
14. Loosen Your Grip on the Wheel
Stress often shows up physically before you even realize how annoyed you are. You might, for example, squeeze the steering wheel or tense your jaw—none of which helps you drive better, by the way. Keep in mind to check your posture every so often during especially congested drives.
15. Use Navigation Even When You Know the Way
Navigation apps aren't only useful when you're lost. In fact, they can warn you about congestion, suggest alternate routes, and give you a clearer idea of when you'll arrive, which might help you feel less impatient. If you know there's a 10-minute delay beforehand, that's often easier to stomach than wondering indefinitely how bad the traffic might get.
16. Avoid Rush Hour When You Can
Got some flexibility in your schedule? Even shifting a trip by 30 minutes can spare you the most frustrating bits of driving. This isn't realistic for every commute, of course, but it can work well for anything you don't need to rush to. There's little reason to sit in traffic when you could simply leave a bit earlier or later.
17. Build in a Pleasant Stop
A long drives can be more bearable when you have something enjoyable planned along the way. So take a break! Stop for coffee, grab lunch somewhere you like, or just take a few minutes outside the car. Giving yourself these pauses gives you a chance to reset before fatigue sets in.
18. Keep the Cabin Volume Reasonable
Remember what we said about music? Well, it's not only what you play that can affect your drive. A loud car can become exhausting over time, especially when you're already dealing with traffic noise and GPS prompts. Obviously, you don't have to drive in silence, but lowering the stereo a little during congested stretches can make the environment feel less overwhelming.
19. Don't Start the Drive Already Stressed
If you're already scrambling and stressed before you get in the car, immediately hitting traffic will only thin your patience even more. Don't put yourself in a sticky situation; have your belongings, route, and prep all good to go, then get the show on the road.
20. Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
More than just building in a pleasant stop along the way, give yourself something else to look forward to. Maybe it's picking up your favorite coffee or simply having a good meal waiting at home. The goal is to keep your spirits up so you're not completely consumed by the frustrations of the road.
