Whether your commute to work is 10 minutes or 1 hour, commuting can leave you getting to the office already exhausted for the day. The commute to and from the office can feel long and tedious, making you want the day to be over before it’s even begun. These tips and tricks can help make your commute more enjoyable, productive, and start the day in a way that prepares you for the work ahead.

Car Health

If you’re driving yourself or others to work every day, it’s important to make sure that your car is in good shape and that your car insurance is up to date. As well as insurance and car safety, it’s also imperative to make sure that you give yourself enough time to get to work.

If you spend your entire commute worried about making it to work on time and stressing out over possibly being late, you’ll be exhausted before you walk into the office. Putting your mind and body in a stress-induced environment will leave you feeling tired, panicked, and overall, not prepared for the work day ahead.

It can be hard to leave for work earlier than you’re used to, especially when you’ve created a routine of leaving at the last possible moment. If you find yourself struggling to leave earlier, commit to trying to leave early for a week. During that week, observe how you feel when you walk into the office. If you find yourself feeling more relaxed and energized than on the days you’re rushing, it may be the motivation you need to create a new routine.

Strategize to Avoid Traffic

If you drive yourself to work, you understand the panic when your usual route has construction, bad road conditions, or an accident. Understanding the traffic levels on different days or possible issues in your route and creating a schedule around them will give you the mental peace of fully understanding the behavior of your commute. It could also be beneficial to have different routes in place to get to work. This way you’re prepared when construction, accidents, etc. arise.

Keep Snacks Around

Afternoon traffic is that much more frustrating when you’re feeling hungry or dehydrated. If you find yourself hungry or thirsty during your commute, it may be beneficial to consider packing snacks and water in your car to enjoy on the ride home. Some people will even create a ritual of going through a drive-through either in the morning or afternoon to get a snack, cup of coffee, or something else to change it up. Traffic is never fun, but it’s even worse when you’re hungry.

Turn on the Music

While you can’t control the flow of traffic, you can control what’s happening inside your car. Some people really enjoy listening to music that energizes them in the morning. Others would rather have a soothing environment. Whether it’s music, calling friends and family to catch up, or listening to a podcast, make sure your car environment in the morning is beneficial to you walking into the office ready for the day.

Limit Your Technology Intake

If you take public transportation to and from work, you may be tempted to scroll through social media, read the news online, or text friends. While this is totally okay for some, others may find that the increased screen time makes them more tired and irritable. Reading a book, magazine, newspaper, or even doing a crossword puzzle can help you feel more productive while commuting and give you the opportunity to take a break from screens.

Rethink Your Commute

While some may feel like commuting is taking a few hours out of the day and throwing them out the window, following just a few of these tips could make your commute feel more productive. Your commute is not only how you get to work, but it sets the tone for the rest of the day, having incidents like an accident or rushing to get to the office, you’ll be ready for the day to be over before it’s even begun. Insure on the Spot offers free car insurance quotes, click here to get yours today!