How to Stay Sane (and Healthy) During Your Morning Commute

Struggling to stay sane during your morning commute?

Looking for ways to keep your stress low?

For many people, the morning commute is one of the least enjoyable times of the day. Whether you’re driving to work or taking public transportation, it can be easy to get stressed out and frustrated when you’re caught in the hustle and bustle and surrounded by so many other people in a rush. However, it doesn’t have to be as bad as you think.

By following the tips below you’ll make the most of your morning commute and have the best chance at staying sane at this time of day.

1. Put The Right Things Into Your Body

One of the best ways you can ensure a more enjoyable commute, and morning, is to make sure your body is getting the nutrients and energy that it needs.

This may mean waking up a little bit earlier so that you have time to eat a full breakfast. At the very least, you should plan on bringing a healthy snack along with you. Whatever you do, don’t skip breakfast altogether.

Also, cut out breakfast “junk food” and instead opt for whole grains and healthier breakfast foods instead. You may want to opt for granola over a cinnamon bun, for example, or swap out sugar-heavy cereals for shredded wheat.

It’s also a good idea to bring water with you to sip on your commute. Dehydration is a real thing, and if you haven’t taken the time to make sure you’re hydrated your commute will be even harder to bare.

2. Find Ways to Move More

It’s also important that you find ways to move your body more during your commute. If you’re cramped in your car with your foot on the pedal or if you’re packed into a subway train, your body may feel weak and uncomfortable.

Look for ways to move more. Get any amount of extra exercise that you can. This may mean taking the time to stretch out for a moment before hopping onto your bus or train, or it may even mean changing your commute path just a bit, opting for a longer stretch of walking rather than riding.

Getting more exercise in during your commute will help your body release those wonderful endorphins we all hear so much about. It will also make it much more likely that the rest of your day goes well.

3. Practice Mindfulness

While the above points are focused on your body, it’s important that you keep your mind healthy and alert as well. It can be stressful sitting on a highway full of backed up traffic or standing just a little too close to strangers on the bus.

Practicing mindfulness offers a lot of positive health benefits and can help you de-stress during your commute.

Start by being more aware of where you are and what you’re doing. Then, monitor your emotions during your commute as they ebb and flow. Breathe deeply and focus your awareness on your thoughts and feelings as they come and go. Don’t judge them, but simply let them be.

While it sounds strange, practicing a little bit of mindfulness each day can help you feel better and more relaxed during your commute.

4. Focus on Gratitude

During your commute, it’s also important that you try your best to focus on being grateful. It can be easy to get caught up in what you don’t have and get angry at the people around you during your commute.

Whether someone cut you off in traffic or someone was rude to you on the train, try not to focus on it. Instead, think of the good things in your life and try to remember them even as you begin to get upset or feel emotional.

If it helps to make a list, do it. Then refer to it during your commute and try to feel grateful and happy for what you have in the moment.

Whether you enjoyed a big breakfast in the morning or you’re just happy to be healthy and breathing well, practicing gratefulness can do a lot for you in the morning.

5. Find Better Ways to Pass the Time

Another great way to improve your morning commute is to simply make better use of your time. Consider passing your time on the train or bus by finally taking the time to read that business book you’ve been meaning to read.

If you’re driving on your commute, then consider listening to an audiobook. You may even want to take this extra time to learn a new language and listen to a Spanish or French audio course.

By learning something new every day on your commute or finding another positive way to pass the time, you’ll start seeing your commute as an equal and important part of your day, rather than a time you have to struggle to push through. Believe it or not, you may even start looking forward to it.

Final Thoughts

While morning commutes are tough on a lot of people, it doesn’t have to be something to dread.

By following some of the tips above you’ll have the best chance possible at having a stress-free commute. You’ll have a much better time in the morning and the habits you take on during your commute may just help the rest of your day go more smoothly as well.