How to Make Sure You’re Well Rested on A Road Trip
Road trips are the best way to travel and experience new places. They provide you with freedom and the ability to choose your own schedule in a manner other travel options simply can’t. However, this also means that the responsibilities that come with driving are on you as well.
The most important of these is to make sure you’re healthy and well-rested during the drive. This can be accomplished even on the longest of drives if you make sleep a priority and if you plan ahead.
Set Aside Time for Sleeping
It’s essentially important that you sleep at least 8 hours while you’re on the road. That way, you can stay well rested and focused while driving. It may be enticing to try to cram as much as you can into your schedule and to drive as much as you can – but that’s how accidents happen.
It’s also better to sleep at night and not mess up your sleeping patterns that much while on vacation. Still, it’s a special occasion, and try not to set too many rules for yourself.
Don’t Drive More than 4 Hours at a Time
At the same time, you shouldn’t drive more than four hours at a time for the very same reason. This is the time recommended to professional drivers as well and even mandated in some countries. Therefore, for someone driving their own vehicle on a trip that’s much longer than their usual route – it may even be a bit too much.
If there’s more than one driver per car, you should take shifts, and each drives their 4 hours at most so that you have time to rest without having to stop.
Avoid Stress That Comes with Dealing with the Law
Driving abroad means you’ll need to obtain documents allowing you to do so, and you’ll need to follow local regulations as any other driver would have. The most important of these documents are the international driving permit and a national license, without which it’s not valid.
Foreigners also need a photo ID, such as a passport, when the police stop them. There are penalties for not having these documents, and it’s best to have them at the ready instead of having to worry about them when it’s too late.
Try to Mimic Your Home Environment
Being far from home and changing your daily routine can change your sleeping schedule and make you less alert and focused on the road. Therefore, it’s best to try and mimic your home environment as much as you can in order to mitigate this.
This is best done by trying to sleep at the same time as you would at home and by bringing along a few objects that remind you of home. Many decide to bring a pillow since it’s the item that will help them get to sleep and one they are most used to.
Don’t Overlook Car Pillows
Travel pillows to bring along in your car may seem like a small comfort, but during a long trip, it can mean so much not only for the driver but for the passenger waiting to take over. They will keep you comfortable during the longest of drivers and allow you to stay mobile and alert.
These pillows come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges, but they are not an item that you should try to save on. It’s best to get the most comfortable pillow you can afford since it really does make a difference when it comes to comfort.
Try to Eliminate Distractions While Driving
Driving for a long time is tiring enough on its own, but it can be even more so if you’re distracted during the whole ride. There are things you can do to mitigate such distractions if not eliminate them together. This starts with being able to answer your phone hands-free and decline the calls when needed.
It also helps if you set up rules for backseat passengers, and if those passengers are kids, you should also have some sort of distraction for them to keep them occupied while you’re focused on the road. Keep Time Zones in Mind
If you’re traveling in a different time zone, you’ll need a bit of time to adapt to the change. This isn’t something you can simply shrug off and if you plan to drive, make sure to leave plenty of time to deal with jet lag.
It’s easy enough to research time zones, and if you plan to rent a car, you can choose the date to pick it up and drop it off so that you’re on the clock only when you’re actually up to the drive.
Don’t Overdo It
Being abroad and enjoying a trip can be a stimulating experience. There’s nothing wrong with trying to see and do as much as you can while you’re there, but still, try not to overdo it since it may affect your driving. It’s best to change your schedule and spread the itinerary over a day or two more if you’re able to.
If you plan to take turns driving, make sure you work this into your plans so that the person driving next is better rested and prepared for the trip. That way, you can enjoy your stay and remain safe on the road.
Stop When You Feel The Need To
If you’re feeling tired during a drive and you feel like you’re not able to focus on the road anymore – don’t hesitate to stop even if it’s not in your itinerary. That’s the main advantage of driving on your own and not having to stick to a schedule.
Your safety is more important than keeping up with plans and making sure you visit as many sights as you’ve wanted to. Don’t try to push through since that’s how most accidents happen and especially so if you’re on the road you’re not familiar with, and there’s no help in sight.
