Stress Relief Techniques for Your Commute
Sunday, November 30th, 2008
I recently read a bumper sticker on the back of a rusted old pick-up truck. It said:
“I’ve got nowhere special to be, so why don’t you get off my butt!”
I was actually riding his bumper because I was rushing to get to work. I had already hit three red lights and now I was staring at that rusty old truck. Since I couldn’t pass him I eased off my gas and thought about that bumper sticker. The more I read it, the more it made sense. That man understood that whenever he got to his destination, regardless of the time, it was going to be just fine.
Creating Stress
When you get mad at someone for driving too slow, you’re creating stress that you can’t control.
Why punch at the sand when you can create a sandcastle?
You do need tension to function, but too much will harm you. So don’t over tax your body’s resources. If you can learn to balance your stress you’ll improve your mood.
I recently read a story from Buddha Cab called I’ve Developed An Aversion to Cab Driving. He could use a little stress relief. He has a quote that I will share with you.
” … all that driving takes a toll on a commuter’s time, money, and peace of mind. David Lewis, a British scientist who studies the brain’s response to stress, found that the tension commuters experience when stuck in traffic is comparable to that felt by first-time parachutists. Part-time New York cabdriver Sol Soloncha knows that too well. ‘I’m a Buddhist,’ he says. ‘I do yoga, I practice meditation, and weekday traffic gets so bad that even I can’t keep my composure during it.’
Finding Those Gems
I believe that many of us feel the same stress when we commute to work. If you can’t relax behind the wheel then you need to learn some stress relief techniques for when you’re commuting. For example, I keep a tennis ball in my car and I’ll squeeze it to occupy my muscles and relieve my tension. You may want to put on your favorite CD and try to zone out to the beautiful sounds instead of allowing your anger to bubble over.
Everyone should learn a few stress techniques and apply them when they are commuting to work. Then use them when they are most needed. The key to developing emotional intelligence is applying the right techniques at the right time.
Castle Building
My absolute favorite technique is to find things that I appreciate as I am driving to work. Maybe it’s an Oak tree that I always pass but never noticed or an old home with brown paint peeling off of it. Whatever it is, I make sure I give a little thanks for it being there.
This technique is what I call “castle building” – making something beautiful out of something frustrating. You can learn to curb your stress when you get stuck behind a truck by appreciating the things that you would normally speed on by. You can also use this “castle building” technique on the train, bus or bike so however you get to work try this technique on your next commute and let me know how it helps.
What techniques do you use to curb your commuter anger?
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My commute is a walk down one flight of stairs while still in my pajamas.
But I can relate to creating stress when in too much of a hurry. The best technique is to leave early and relax.
Your story about the truck make me think about some original Walmart employees who became millionaires. Many just kept driving their old pickups without a care in the world because they now had their “go to hell money” and were immune to insult and could cover whatever damage you threw at them.
Tom Volkar/ Delightful Work’s last blog post..Grounding Your Small Business Vision
Hi Karl,
I’m lucky in that my commute is about ten miles, on roads that are lightly traveled. That said, it’s still possible to get behind someone not meeting my “driving standards”. In fact, just this morning, after several inches of snow overnight, I ended up about 10 cars back from a car going way slow on roads that were in “pretty good” condition. There was no way to pass. And I just took the time (after my initial stress and frustration) to say – I can’t change the situation. And I took the time to look at the fresh snow on the fields. And I took a different back road part of the way to work – which got me away from the slow driver, but also gave me a different and fresh perspective since I was traveling a road I rarely take.
I find it’s hardest to maintain stress levels when I really think I have to be somewhere at a certain time. When I’m not as rushed, things go much better. So, maybe part of the key for me is to make sure I leave myself plenty of time….
Lance’s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Hi Karl: I think it’s more likely that you’ll get angry while driving if you’re late (and leaving early is within your control, if you’re already angry at something else (so try to resolve any other issues you may be having), and if you’re bored (so try listening to audiotapes while you’re in your car). That’s how I try to handle driving stress.
Marelisa’s last blog post..Creative Thinking Techniques: The “Playful” Edition
Hi Karl,
Before I leave the house I spend a few minutes thinking of things that I’m grateful for. It always helps me relax, and I’ve found it’s very difficult to get stressed or frustrated when you’re in an appreciative mood!
I’ve lucked out and bus over to work now, but I still keep up the same ritual, and it helps with [the now rare] stress I encounter on my way to work.
Hi Tom, you are lucky. You are also right – it’s really the happiness inside that matters.
Hi Lance, time is all a state of mind.
Hi Marelisa, I love books on CD. Don’t know how I would survive my commute without them.
Hi Shawn, I should take the bus, but it would take me over an hour to get to work.
“What techniques do you use to curb your commuter anger?”
I breathe deeply. If my kids are with me, I glance at them to remind myself that there’s nothing more important than their safety. If they’re not with me, I remind myself that they need me and nothing is more important than getting back to them, safely.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post..Female Athletes Say Skimpy Outfits Are Not Sexist
I just mentioned this one on PluginID’s site as well for dealing with appreciation and it’s obviously the same here. It’s simply saying, “IT COULD BE WORSE!”.
Mike King’s last blog post..Open Ended Questions Make Better Conversations
Good tips. I’m really lucky in that I’m a home worker now after 12 years of commuting into Manchester – some 15 miles each way. My life is worse now though in some ways because I carery the stress of work straight into my home life… a commute was an unwind. The best phase for me (mental health wise) was the six years I commuted by bicycle – 15 miles each way and a guaranteee that I’d be totally free in my mind on arrival home!
wonderful work dear fellow