8 Ways to Improve Your Commute

Getting ready for work and the daily morning commute can be eventful, to say the least. From forgetting your lunch, sleeping through your alarm and sitting for hours on end in stop-start traffic, any number of things can go wrong or turn a good day to a bad one.

We’ve put together 8 ways to improve your mental state and make that commute a smooth, safe, productive and stress-free journey.

8 Tips for an Enjoyable Commute

1. Plan Ahead of Time

From getting the kids ready for school, getting yourself ready for work and remembering to take your lunch, mornings can be really stressful. So it’s a good idea to come up with a plan to prepare for the next day. With everything worked out the night before, your mornings are free to deal with those last minute things that pop up or even leave 5 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush.

The Night-Before-To-do List:

• Pick out what you want to wear for the next day.
• Put your shoes in a basket or location beside the front door.
• Prepare your lunch, drinks and snacks so you can quickly grab it before heading out the door.
• Pack your bag with your laptop, headphones, and other essentials before getting into bed.
• Make sure your phone is fully charged.
• Plan for the unexpected like bad weather
  
  

2. Check Your Car Regularly

Imagine the stress of breaking down on your commute, with smoke coming out of your bonnet,a tyre going flat or running out of petrol. Now that’s a terrible start to the day. Conducting a 10 minute basic maintenance check on your car is easy and reduces the risk of any breakdowns.

Basic Maintenance Check:

• Check If your car’s engine oil colour and level are what they should be.
• Make sure your window washing liquid is full.
• Check tyre pressure and condition.
• Fill up your car the day before so that there’s more than enough petrol in the tank.
  
  

3. Set a Proper Driving Position

Before you buckle up and zoom out of your driveway, setting a proper driving posture can go a long way for your health and safety on the road. A poor driving position can lead to injuries, back pain, a sore neck and impair your vision on the road. Once you’ve taken all the steps for setting a good driving position, you’re ready to buckle up, turn the engine on and roll out.

If you’re stuck in stop-start traffic or waiting at the traffic lights, break out into a good stretch. Not only does it feel good, but it also reduces the risk of any blood clots from sitting in one place for too long. Place one of your arms behind your neck, with your other arm holding onto that elbow and stretch - and switch sides for the other arm, so that you’re comfy on your journey.

How to Set a Good Driving Position:

• Ensure your headrest is directly behind your head and is aligned to the top of your ears.
• Position each mirror so that you don’t have to lean or crane your neck for a good view of your sides and rear.
• Adjust the placement of your steering wheel and your seat position for ultimate comfort.
• Wear comfortable shoes and be relaxed.
  
  

4. Stay Focused

Driving on the same ol’ roads can be very boring - which can easily distract you and even make you doze off. Having a good night’s sleep keeps you fresh and focused on the road to avoid any complacency, and you can even spice it up with a new route to keep you entertained.

Things to Help You Stay Focused:

• A cup of coffee or green tea in a sealed and reusable cup.
• Non-perishable snacks (dried fruit, nut mix, protein bars and bottled water) which come in handy if you’re feeling peckish on the road.
• Try a different way with less stop-start traffic.

5. Use Technology to Your Advantage

Cars now come with all the latest technology, so why not use it to make your drive an enjoyable one? With Suzuki’s infotainment system and built-in sat-nav, you can plug in your destination to map out your journey. You can easily connect your smartphone for live traffic updates, or ever better yet, listen along to your favourite tunes or podcast.

Using the Smart Technology:

• Listen to the radio for any traffic alerts/jams so that you can take a different route to avoid it and laugh along to the antics of your favourite breakfast or drive show.
• Catch up with family and friends on the phone using the car connected Bluetooth and voice activated dialing while you’re sitting in traffic. Set your adaptive cruise control feature that auto adjusts your speed to ensure you’re safely keeping your distance from the car in front of you - perfect for the motorway.
• With blind spot monitor, you’ll get a visual and audio alert if there are cars coming up on your side when you’re switching lanes.
  
  

6. Keep Calm on the Road

Stay calm, stick to the speed limit, and avoid changing lanes too often. A commute is not an action movie car chase or formula 1 race and by speeding up and slowing down quickly you can guzzle a serious amount of petrol.

Driving can be stressful especially if you or others are running late. Resist reacting to how others are driving, and getting involved in any road rage incidents - but do show an apologetic hand if you are at fault. Instead be a defensive and considerate driver. Focus on your journey, give plenty of advance warning and don’t let anything get under your skin. There is no point in arriving at work or back at home fuming and in a bad mood.

7. Listen to Your Favourite Tunes or Podcasts

Listening to music and podcasts is a great way to de-stress while sitting in heavy traffic or navigating the streets. It creates a calming and happy atmosphere and fills in the time while you are getting to and from work. With the windows up, you don’t have to be shy - so sing your heart out and put the fun back into your journey.

8. Drive Safely

You’re driving around in a heavy and powerful machine, so it pays to be extra safe on your drive. Stick to the speed limit and stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings (other drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists) to ensure everyone is safe on the road.

Using your phone while you’re driving is an absolute no-no as it poses a danger to everyone sharing the road. Remember to connect it up to the car through Bluetooth before you get started on your commute.

With these 8 ways to improve your commute, you’ll be relaxed, positive and prepared every time you get behind the wheel.

If your car needs a few more bells and whistles in the car technology department, check out the 3 best cars for urban commuting and download our Complete Guide to Buying a New Car today!