Long trips can test your sanity
You might start out okay – eagerly anticipating the journey and especially the rewarding destination – but part way through the trip you're at your wits' end. WHEN that happens ultimately depends on whether or not you have children and how many people there are in the vehicle during your trip.
So here are some tips to maintain your sanity while traveling
- Get creative to make the journey as fun as the destination. Plan periodic rest stops at historic sites, or just get out and stretch your legs and read a book. Too many people get stressed out about their trip because they see it as a painful necessity prior to their destination. A slight attitude adjustment can change all that around
- Make a checklist before you leave. The checklist should include all the things you need to put into the car as well as all the things you need to do before you leave (i.e. make sure the stove is turned off and the front door is locked). Having this list and checking each item off before you leave will give you peace of mind so you don't need to turn around and pick something else up
- Use GoogleMaps to plan your route ahead of time and check highway conditions and construction updates to ensure that your route is clear. A good trip and can go sour quickly if you have to make unexpected detours through unfamiliar areas. Be sure to schedule bathroom breaks periodically and have some idea where the bathrooms are before you head out onto the road. Nothing is worse than someone who painfully admits to having to go to the bathroom but you have no idea how far away another one is
- Avoid sugary snacks and soft drinks. Instead, rely on fresh fruits and vegetables for snacks and water or juice to drink…even for the grownups. If you want to drink something slightly more interesting than water, low sodium club soda with slices of real lime are a great way to stay hydrated and refreshed, and you won't feel gross later in your trip because of the amount of sugar you consumed
- Have plenty of entertainment for the kids. Invest in portable DVD players or handheld videogames, and bring along a collection of kids games for the road (which are freely available online)
- If you start to get tired or "hypnotized" by the sound of the road, pull over and rest momentarily
- Keep important addresses and phone numbers in your glove compartment, including the addresses of any Boyd Autobody & Glass location you might pass by on your trip…just in case you get into a collision.
Long trips don't have to be painful ones. But if you want to maintain your sanity on long trips, you need to do a little bit of planning first.
