Did you know April is Stress Awareness Month?
OK, OK. Now you are probably laughing. Because you don’t need a month to make you more aware of the stress in your life, right? You are away from home for weeks on end, you have unreasonable demands from your company, you may feel like the government is breathing down your throat. The list could go on.
So maybe you don’t need the reminder that life is full of stress. But you could use this time to make some changes to make yourself feel better. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Find something that helps you relax in your downtime. For some, that may be exercise. For others, it could be watching a mind-numbing reality show on TV. If you don’t know what helps you relax, try out some new activities. Write down some of your thoughts from the day in a notebook, or go for a walk in a scenic area near where you’ve stopped over.
2. Keep in touch with your family. With the prevalence of technology these days, this is easier than ever, and many families can even video chat when Mom or Dad is on the road.
3. If you have a little extra time, look up a local massage therapist. There’s nothing quite like having some of the stress literally worked out of your body to put you more at ease, and it’s a nice way to get out of the truck for a while.
4. If you are feeling overwhelmed with stress, consider a session with a counselor to figure out ways to cope. This may be something that has to wait until you are home for a few days, or you may even find someone out on the road to talk with. Some truckstops have chaplains, and there are professional counselors who will sometimes agree to talk with a patient by phone.
Life is stressful, particularly for a truck driver, so take some time this month to de-stress.