2 Mental Mistakes That Cost Drivers Their Sanity…And Maybe More

I've written a new article today about maintaining your sanity while you're on the road. Anyone going through truck driving school is probably ready to pull their hair out learning to shift, back, and drive safely on the highways. But once you get out there on the road you're soon going to find that handling the rig is easier than handling the mental challenges of life on the road. I've watched so many drivers over the years drive themselves insane by having the wrong outlook on things so here's a few tips to help you keep a better perspective - and your sanity...

2 Mental Mistakes That Cost Drivers Their Sanity…And Maybe More

Brett that article was right on. After driving for 15 years I have developed a "self policing" that I used to actively do but now has become second nature.

While I am getting up to start the day and while getting dressed and doing the morning paperwork of logs and general safety things I examine my mental status and plan my day accordingly. If I am not is a very good mood I leave the CB Radio off. Avoid negative people at the truck stops and on the road and try to stay outside the normal activities of trucking mentally. I turn on my favorite music on the radio and relax going down the road.

Then there are days I wake up and readily attack the day with a smile. I run the CB and I am more chatty on the radio. I make random comments on the radio like "Its a great day to drive" or "Its a beautiful day today" I usually get another driver to come back on the radio and we talk a few miles going to the road. Some days you get those drivers that simply seem to be born on the wrong side of the bed and then I usually turn the radio off. My attitude stems strictly from being in the truck and is not influenced by anything else. I watch absolutely NO TV at all because it simply more negativity that I don't need. Mainly I spend my freetime on the forums here or watching Youtube videos.

I tend to act and react strongly because of the different factors throughout my life so I developed the "self policing" practice to help dilute my strong reactions to different things. Works great for me. But the biggest plus is I am aware of this and can deal according to the situation at hand. The sad part is most people tend to react poorly and they have no idea or reasoning to it.

That's a great article Brett and a good post from guy jax. The way I like to do things and what I tell my wife all the time is not to worry about things until it's time to worry. In doing this, it keeps my mind clear and let's me focus on the task at hand rather than clouding my mind with things I probably can't change any way. although I'm not a trucker yet,I use this tactic in class when I mess some thing up on the course. I just think to myself I know how to do this but I keep in mind I'm still learning and I will get it the next time around. Then I move on and try to focus on the next task that I need to do. That is pretty much the way I handle my every day life as well.