How many hours per week do you spend behind the wheel? As delivery drivers, your job can be tough on the body. Between muscle pain, tension and stiffness, your activity can cause extreme fatigue while driving, but also affect your overall well-being. However, it is possible to stay fit and prevent pain and fatigue by integrating a few simple exercises and stretches into your driving routine.So how do you combat fatigue while driving? Here are some suggestions for keeping fit while driving.
Poor posture while driving can lead to pain and tension. As delivery driver, your vehicle is your daily workplace. And, when you feel pain, driving fatigue can quickly set in. To have and maintain an optimal driving posture, you can easily implement these two tips:
The height of your seat and steering wheel plays a crucial role in prevention. To do this, adjust your seat so that your hips are slightly higher than your knees. Make sure the steering wheel is at a comfortable distance to avoid leaning forward.
When your shoulders feel a certain amount of tension during your driving hours, it can cause long-term pain. To avoid this, keep your shoulders relaxed and avoid lifting or rounding them forward. Try to keep your shoulder blades slightly retracted.
Prolonged driving can cause muscle tension. To avoid them, take a few minutes to do a few gentle whole-body stretches. Focus on areas that are often stressed while driving, such as the neck, shoulders, back, and legs. These stretches will help you release muscle tension and improve flexibility.
Tilt your head gently from side to side to stretch the neck muscles. Also, do gentle shoulder rotations back and forth to release tension. You can also slowly turn your head left and right to release neck tension.
Extend your arms out in front of you with your palms facing up. Bend your wrists and fingers backwards. Hold for a few seconds then release. To relax the muscles in the hands, you can also clench and unclench your fists several times.
Sit up straight and gently rotate your upper body to the left and right, keeping your hips still. This allows the core muscles to be stretched and tensions to be relieved.
While keeping your foot on the gas pedal, extend one leg forward and flex your toes upward to stretch the leg muscles. Repeat the exercise with the other leg.
Some parts of the body are more likely to experience pain during prolonged driving. Here are some tips to prevent them:
Breaks are crucial moments in the prevention of fatigue while driving. Indeed, on the road, your concentration is always maximum to ensure the safety of others and yourself. It is therefore essential to take a few moments of break during which you can take the opportunity to stretch your legs, walk a bit, stretch or simply breathe in the fresh air. Taking these short breaks on a regular basis can help you relax and ease the tension caused by prolonged driving. This allows you to remain alert when you hit the road and thus reduce driving fatigue.
To combat fatigue while driving and maintain your health, try to incorporate muscle-strengthening exercises into your routine. So, you can perform squats, lunges, push-ups, or calf raises to maintain leg strength. Of course, prefer at the end of the day or during your breaks to do them.
Take the time to do a few deep breaths regularly to relax and oxygenate your body. In addition, practicing deep breathing exercises can help you relax after a long day of driving or during traffic.To do this: take a deep breath through your nose, filling your abdomen with air, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Focus on your breathing and let the tensions go away.
Last but not least, drink enough water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Keep a water bottle or water bottle handy in your vehicle and take regular sips to make sure you stay hydrated.
Driving fatigue is a risk in your business, but it should not be inevitable. So that your job is not synonymous with pain and discomfort, there are exercises and habits that are easy to implement. By following these simple tips, you can prevent muscle pain and maintain optimal posture while traveling. Take care of yourself, take regular breaks and enjoy your time on the road with peace of mind. Do you want to become a Shippr partner delivery driver and carry out delivery missions whenever you want? Go to our dedicated page to know all the details and register using the form.
