Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy on the Road

Take a moment to think about your current health status. Are you as healthy as you’d like to be? Could you improve your diet and exercise habits? Is it time to perform a little preventive maintenance?

As a driver, you can appreciate the importance of performing regular maintenance on your vehicle. You want that vehicle operating at peak performance. The same approach can be used when it comes to your health. A basic “maintenance plan” for a healthy lifestyle should include these Top 5 ideas:

1. Eating a healthy diet

Everyone knows they should eat healthy, but it’s not easy. Fortunately, truck stop restaurants are starting to offer more healthy options, so go out of your way to choose them. You can also pick out some healthy snacks to bring with you on the road, stay hydrated by drinking more water and set up an accountability system with someone to report on what you’ve been eating.

2. Exercising regularly

Exercise doesn’t have to be an impossible task. Instead of exercising for a solid hour or setting unrealistic expectations, exercise throughout the day. Spend five minutes stretching before hopping in the driver’s seat, do some pushups during your 30-minute HOS break and squeeze in a quick workout while you’re being loaded/unloaded. Did you know that walking around the truck and 53-foot trailer 32 times equals one mile?

3. Getting adequate sleep

Changing schedules and strange hours can be tough to get used to, but as you plan your trip, prepare some designated time for sleep. If sleep apnea is or could be an issue, get it checked out — now.

4. Limiting or coping with stress

Truck driving can be stressful, with deadlines looming and time away from home, but there are all kinds of ways to tackle that stress. First of all, if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. You don’t have to go it alone. Some of the best ways to handle stress are by addressing some of the other items on this list. If you’re getting better sleep and eating healthier, you’ll feel better. Lastly, focus on what you can control, not things you can’t (like other motorists).

5. Not smoking

It’s an easy concept: Stop smoking and be healthier. Of course, for smokers, there’s nothing easy about quitting. Fortunately, there are many different methods out there for conquering the habit. Schneider offers a tobacco cessation program available to drivers enrolled in the company medical plan. If you haven’t quit yet, find a way.

This post is compliments of our friends at Schneider Trucking. Schneider understands that driver health directly affects performance and happiness, which is why they provide tools to help drivers stay healthy and improve their health.

Learn more about Schneider’s commitment to driver health and apply to join the team by visiting schneiderjobs.com or calling 800-44-PRIDE.