Truckers and Travelers

Happy New Year, Fellow Drivers!

I recently read this article in a trucking magazine called The Long Haul from 2008.  I will copy it because it seems fit for the first day of the new year!   This is the first of three parts.  Enjoy the read and remember to be safe out there!

The most common resolutions made each year include losing weight, getting fit, quitting smoking and reducing stress.  As an over-the-road driver, the challenges you face differ from those borne by someone working in an office environment.  for you, improving your health isn’t as easy as simply getting up from a desk and taking a walk.  Some health risk factors that commonly affect professional drivers today are smoking, obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure) and stress.

Driver Health And Wellness

Tips to get you started on the path toward better health include:

Get enough sleep.  Most adults need 7-9 hours to maintain proper alertness.  Adequate rest keeps your mind alert and your immune system strong.  (We all know that most of the truckers don’t get enough sleep.  Most of the time you’re stretching your log book to make the next drop.  When you can’t get this amount of sleep, try to get naps along the way.  If you get sleepy, pull over and take a power nap of 15 to 20 minutes.  It will wake you up and help you get to the next stop.) Parenthesis added.

Find ways to relax or reduce stress.  Basic deep breathing techniques and taking yourself out of the moment can go a long way toward relieving stress.  If you feel you don’t have the control over your stress level, talk to a doctor about options available to you.  (You can always make a list of areas in your life that are causing worry and anxiety and think of solutions to reduce those feelings so you can put your energy in making your trucking business a success.)

Stay fit and get regular exercisesuch as walking.  Even three 15-minute walks a day can help take the pounds off and make you healthier.  Studies also show that building muscle will help increase your metabolism and significantly increase your weight loss efforts.  Include basic stretches to help relieve stressed muscles to further enhance stress relief.

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 to get the REST of the story!  Happy New Year!