Many of us head to work each morning in a car, van or on a motorbike. We drive to work, drive home, pick up the kids in the car, do the weekly shop with the car; in fact we use the car several times a day barely using our legs. We park as close as we can to our destination so the walking we need to do is kept to a minimum. This type of lifestyle is not doing us any good, we rush around without exercising, feeling stressed, tired and worn out at the end of the day. Living in a rat race isn’t good for any of us, so how can we change our lives by rethinking our daily commute and transportation?
The Stress of the Roads
Driving on long empty roads can be a good stress reliever but our roads are more congested than ever before. There are near misses every day and plenty of accidents that are witnessed by other drivers. Some people drive too fast, others too slow, people cut in or fail to indicate, it’s a very stressful existence. As we drive and experience all of the events on the road stress hormones are released into the body. There has to be a healthier way of getting from point A to point B!
Give Yourself Time
One of the major causes of stress on the road is caused by the lack of time. Everyone is in a hurry and this can result in panic. The first thing you can do to help reduce your stress is change your daily routine to ensure you have plenty of time to travel. This may involve getting up earlier and going to bed earlier, or perhaps designating some of your jobs in the home to another family member. Just make the changes you need to ensure you’re never in a rush when you sit behind the wheel.
Improving your organisation skills will also give you extra time. Use a calendar on the kitchen wall and if you have a smartphone record all times and dates of any appointments or occasions on your phone. Set the alarm to notify you two days before as well as the evening before and an hour before the starting time of the event. Plan your days around these times and allow yourself extra time to get to the location so you never have to put your foot to the floor.
Leave the Car at Home
When possible leave your car at home and find an alternative way of travelling. It doesn’t take long to travel a few miles on foot and you benefit from reduced stress hormones, increased endorphins and the exercise itself. For longer journeys consider investing in an electric bike. You can pedal, helping you benefit from the advantages biking has on your health and fitness, but you can also use the electric motor to increase your speed and save your legs occasionally. It’s an excellent alternative to the car, which is kinder to you and to the environment. Visit extrembike.co.za to learn more about the benefits of electric bikes.
The author is a freelance blogger and full time copywriter; he’s also the owner of an electric bike. Over the last three years he has steered away from traditional vehicles and transportation in a bid to help reduce pollution and improve his own health. You can learn more about his experiences by reading the hundreds of articles online.
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