Relax. This ought to be the easiest one, but sometimes isn’t. Turn on some music, drive a little slower and just use the time to relax. Remind yourself that everybody needs a little down time, so that’s productive, too. You’ll probably find this a lot easier to do part of the time, if you do something else at other times, so here are a few ideas.
- Listen to an audiobook. Whether it’s just the novel you don’t have time to read or a business book to help your career or finances.
- Brush up on a foreign language. Publishers like Pimsleur and Berlitz offer CDs, tapes and even downloadable MP3s specifically designed for learning a language while you drive. Here’s a useful skill that also helps sharpen the brain generally.
- Listen to news or talk radio. No matter your interest, there’s probably a talk radio program available to fit - from personal advice to pets to cars to cigars, talk radio is about a lot more than just current events. (Just remember when you’re ready to call in to a talk radio program that the number 4 tip in my list of 12 tips for calling a talk radio show is “don’t use a cellphone!” Wait for the phone call until you’re out of the car.)