Women in Trucking - A Woman Driver's Guide

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Have you ever noticed how some people always seem so stressed out? Not once in a while, but all the time. And not just about normally stressful things but everything-even things that you might think anyone could take in stride? Things like a doctor being stressed about listening to a patient's problems, or a salesman that can't deal with people, or a driver that can't keep his cool when four wheelers do what four wheelers do.

There are other ways to bring stress into your life as a driver. Like anyone else, we have to make many choices, but maybe not always the ones you expect. Yes, the choices we make can lead to tragic consequences with people injured or killed, but there are more subtle consequences too.

Our health is definitely two of them because both our mental and physical health can be adversely affected. Ulcers, poor digestion, sleeping difficulties, and high blood pressure are a few of the more obvious ones. Mentally, we can become someone no one wants to be around. Being irritable, short-tempered, maybe even verbally abusive, are some signs of mental stress but this list can go on and on. These signs can lead to depression and lead you to make even poorer choices, perpetuating a vicious cycle.

There are ways to alleviate some if not all of these symptoms of stress. First, don't take or stay in a job you hate. Don't have unrealistic expectations. If we are unrealistic about what our job entails and what it allows, then we will be constantly stressed. If traffic or people are part of your job, find a way to successfully deal with them.

Poor planning contributes much to stress. Remember, if we leave late or don't plan enough time into our trips we alone are responsible for the resulting stress and problems-not to mention the danger this creates.

Constantly griping about what we don't like or find difficult does nothing to fix those things. Learning skills to cope with them will. Learn to drive like a pro and use those skills. Give yourself time to reach your destinations. Don't know how to figure that? Ask a more experienced driver how they do it. Most of us are more than willing to help out. Don't start your week tired. Don't make plans before you get home.

Yeah, it would be nice to make reservations and tell the family or loved ones you will be home in time to make a movie or a party. But when things go wrong (and they will), then everybody is upset and the resulting stress may force bad choices by driving too fast for the conditions, and/or tailgating other vehicles, trying to get around that slow four-wheeler in the hammer lane.

Don't spend more than you make, and don't spend money you don't have in your pocket or bank account. Don't spend money to impress anyone. Buy only what you really need, not whatever you want. A huge house to "keep up with the Joneses" really just means huge bills: a mortgage; cooling and heating; not to mention furnishings; cleaning; and maintenance. Maybe what you really "need" is peace of mind and knowing you can pay your bills every month, save for the future, take your family on a vacation, or buy a toy or two without breaking the bank. Maybe all you need is to just take a few days off each month to enjoy what you do have.

Thoughts become things, have good ones.