How to Make your Long Drives More Comfortable: Planning a road trip? Read this first.

 

Whether you’re planning a fun road trip with friends or you’ve been summoned elsewhere for work purposes — it’s no denying that long drives can get kinda uncomfortable after a while.

That’s why it’s important to come prepared so that even an 8-hour cruise will feel like a breeze. 

First thing’s first, let’s go through a few fundamentals when it comes to planning a long commute.

Read on to learn more about how to make your long drive more comfortable.

Make sure you’ve got sufficient rest.

Get plenty of sleep before you set out on your trip. This iscrucial for your safety (for obvious reasons!) The last thing you want is to doze off in the middle of your drive. 

So don’t skimp on adequate rest before the big day. 

Keep your car clean

Before embarking on your journey, make sure that your vehicle is in its best condition. 

The last thing you want is to marinate in a filthy environment, breathing in air contaminants and debris from your cat seats and car floor mats. In general, coil car floor mats are quite time-consuming to clean. 

So try out easy-to-clean hygienic car floor mats that only need a splash of water to look brand new again. 

Stay hydrated 

Bring a bottle of water with you to ensure that you keep hydrated throughout your trip. Although you might find that drinking a lot of water (and having to take frequent bathroom breaks, as a consequence) is cumbersome, it’s still going to keep you alert. 

Plus, it’ll help prevent dehydration that might cause you headaches and migraines down the road. Bottoms up! 

 

 

Bring healthy snacks

Let’s be honest, it can get super tempting to chow down on packets of crisps or candy. Especially since they’re so convenient. Just one stop at the gas station and you’re set with a gazillion junk food options. But…they’re only going toslow you down. Yup, junk food feels good at first but the sugar crash isn’t going to help you in the long run.

So, let’s go over some healthy treats that are both quick, yummy,and will help to keep you feeling great.

• Mixed nuts
• Protein bars
• Apple/Banana slices with nut butter (of your choice!) 
• Frozen grapes
• String cheese (pair it with some graham crackers if you like)
• Edamame
• Sunflower or Pumpkin Seeds

Of course, these are just ideas. Feel free to experiment with other types of snacks that’ll work best for you. Just make sure to have some tissues on hand to wipe off any sticky or crumbly mess! 

Determine your optimal driving conditions

Are you a morning person and thrive better in early sunny weather, or are you more of a night-owl with expendable energy when everyone else is already asleep?

Well, you might want to plan your long drive around when you feel at your most energetic and alert. 

Of course, traffic conditions matter too. It’s better to decide whether leaving earlier on in the day or later on at night is much more efficient for your journey.

Plan bathroom breaks

I know, it’s just going to slow your journey down. But trust me, you’ll be glad for a little stretch after being stationed behind the wheel for so long. Plan your journey and a few bathroom breaks in between you keep you feeling more refreshed. 

(Plus, remember that you’re supposed to stay hydrated throughout the trip, so this will be the perfect time to relieve yourself if you need to.)

Choose your entertainment

Curate your favorite roadtrip music playlist on Spotify to keep you entertained. Not a fan of music?

 Try listening to Podcasts or explore some audiobooks that you’ve been meaning to check out.

 I mean, who wouldn’t want to add more books on the “Things-I’ve-Read-This-Year” list, right? A long commute is the perfect time to catch up with your reading after all! 

Wear comfortable clothes

This one is a no-brainer—you’d want to stay comfortable for the entire duration of your trip. The last thing you want is to don an itchy wool sweater that’s going to bug you for hours. Not ideal. 

So, opt for clothes that you feel the most comfortable in. Make sure to bring an extra pair of sweater to brace the cold (or alternatively, dress down if the weather is particularly warm where you live).

Remember to bring a pair of comfortable footwear too.

Prioritize safety over anything else

If by any chance your roadtrip didn’t pan out the way you planned it and you find yourself rushing for time, remember that getting to your destination safely is more important than driving dangerously just to be there on time. 

Yours and others’ safety on the road is important. So, plan ahead, and if life gets in the way (as it usually does) remember that nothing is worth a fatal accident on the road.

So, plan wisely, be prepared, and be safe on the road!