Seasonal Stress, and How to Manage It

Driving for long periods of time can easily cause any driver to feel stressed, especially in heavy traffic. Even though we may not be able to control the behavior of drivers around us that can cause stress, we can control how we react to them. Learning to do so can make a positive influence on the quality of life as a driver. We took the time to research some of the physical symptoms of stress and included some good tips from our Captive group Cottingham and Butler to reduce stress while you are on the road.

Physical symptoms of stress can include low energy, headaches, upset stomach including diarrhea, constipation and nausea, aches, pains, tense muscles, chest pain and rapid heartbeat, insomnia, frequent colds and infections, nervousness and shaking, ringing in ears, cold or sweaty hands and feed, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing, clenched jaw and grinding teeth.

If you feel yourself victim to these symptoms make sure you pull over and take a few deep breaths to calm down. When you breathe and provide your body with more oxygen, the less anxious you will feel. Breath in your nose and out your mouth. This is reported to have the quickest effects to deliver oxygen to your body.

Make sure that the temperature around you is not causing stress. Make sure to stay cool and comfortable in your cab. It can be easy to ignore your hunger to keep yourself on route and in good time, but driving hungry can add a lot of stress to your day. Keep snacks on hand to avoid hunger while on the road. Keeping your cab organized can also subconsciously reduce a lot of stress.