Mental Health: Stress and driving tips

There’s no denying a stressed driver is often an unsafe driver. D4Drivers offers some valuable advice for combating stress and staying safe and calm while on the road.

As a driver, you know that one of your main priorities is road safety, however, when your stress levels lead to a poor night’s sleep or lack of concentration, accidents could happen.

Whilst stress can negatively affect individuals in any job, if you include a 25-tonne vehicle in the equation, it can become dangerous.

Some of the main causes of stress are an unfortunate integral part of having a driving career such as getting passengers or loads to their destination on time and long working hours (typically in traffic).

But what can you do to help matters? High levels of stress can have severe detrimental effects on your health and wellbeing such as:

● High blood pressure

● A weakened immune system

● Headaches

● Raised irritability. (Trust us when we say that road rage definitely isn’t ideal when you’re in control of an HGV or have passengers in the back of your vehicle.)

● Difficulty concentrating on the road.

How to combat stress as a driver

Getting control of your stress levels isn’t always easy. It can be hard to go to battle with your own mind. However, here are our top tips for reducing your stress levels while out on the road.Listen to something goodWhether you listen to audiobooks, podcasts or music, all of these can help reduce stress.

Calming music is so readily available and can really help reduce stress. We always suggest that once your stress levels have returned to normal you should change the music, as for some people, sounds like the ocean or babbling brooks can make people a little drowsy.

Don’t let other road users bother you

Easier said than done we know, but once you learn to not let other road users frustrate you with their driving, you will be a lot less stressed.

Stay hydrated

Believe it or not, keeping your water intake at a good level is a really good way to maintain your stress levels. It might be worth investing in a reusable water bottle that you can refill at each of your stops.

Make sure you’re eating properly

Whether you take food with you or pick something up at the services, nutritionally dense snacks will help maintain a clear head by cutting down cortisol levels (the stress hormone).

Take time out

Taking a time out can change your mindset and stop yourself from feeling overwhelmed if something goes wrong on the road. When you stop at services, make sure you step out of the driver’s seat and go on a wander.

Have regular medical checks

Making sure that you’re keeping tabs on your health could be one of the best ways to keep on top of preventing stress from taking its toll on your body. Our driver medicals all consist of multiple health checks, one of which is a blood pressure check!

Stretch

Stretching can relax muscles that could be tense from the stresses of driving, it also helps clear your mind and help prepare you mentally for the remainder of your drive. The next time you’re at a service station or taking a short break in a layby, take some time to stretch.

Stress is something you will encounter regularly while driving a HGV, but it’s important you don’t let stress control you. We understand life on the road and being away from family is hard and so we hope these tips can help, even just a little.

If these tips don’t work for you and you’re struggling with long-term stress or depression, then please reach out for some support.

Visit: https://www.mind.org.uk/ for more information.