The life of a trucker is not always easy. You are away from your family for long periods at a time, and you feel the weight of responsibility every day that you drive down the highway. Maintaining good health while on the road can be difficult when faced with these unique challenges. That’s why we have compiled this list of tips for truckers to help them maintain their health, both physically and mentally!
Tips for Maintaining Health While on the Road
1. Eat well
Maintaining a healthy diet while on the road is challenging, but if you have access to a refrigerator and microwave, there are plenty of ways to eat right and stay fit as a truck driver. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try!
2. Get enough sleep
Truckers often feel pressure from their employers or customers to keep going even when they’re tired, but this can be detrimental to your health in more than one way. Overtired drivers make mistakes that lead to accidents and injuries; truck crashes cost lives every year. You need rest before getting behind the wheel—and eight hours each night is best!
For more perspective on this topic, read: Day or Night Trucking: Which Is Best?
3. Stay active
When you live out of your vehicle day after day, sometimes exercise seems impossible. However, if you don’t exercise, it will be that much harder to maintain your health as a trucker. The best way is the easiest: go for a walk! Even if you’re driving all day and can’t stop, just get out of your vehicle whenever you have an hour or two at rest stops or parking lots.
4. Stay positive
Believe it or not, positivity is one of the keys to maintaining good mental health while on the road. When you are constantly surrounded by negative people—or when stress makes everything look bleak—it’s easy to feel depressed and alone in your situation. Don’t let this happen! Even when you need emergency truck repair in Gainesville, GA, keep looking on the bright side.
5. Stay hydrated while on the road
There are dozens of precautions truckers can take to avoid accidents but staying hydrated is one of the easiest and most important. When you become dehydrated on the road, your mind will feel foggy and slow; it’s hard to think clearly or make good decisions when this happens.
6. Take breaks during long drives
Stop often for fresh air and stretching exercises that help alleviate back pain from sitting too much and getting stiff muscles/joints.
7. Keep in touch with family and friends
Feeling isolated on the road is a major contributor to mental health problems among truckers. That’s why it’s so important for you to stay connected! Whether by phone, email, or video chat, make sure your loved ones know they are not forgotten while you’re away.
Now you have some great tips on how to stay healthy as a trucker. Of course, you can’t account for everything that can happen on the road. That is why Road Rescue is here to help. Our mobile breakdown service in GA is always here for you.
