Haul drivers, also referred to as over-the-road truckers, drive for long distances and long hours before they can rest. And most of them have been seen to have food choices that don’t seem to support their lifestyle, so the conversation about the things these drivers could do to improve their health is still relevant.
Experts like Nancy of Behrman have stepped in with vital tips and information to help truck drivers adjust their lifestyles so they can live a healthy life. Dale Parducci is a renowned fitness trainer who has been coaching people through both online social platforms and by in-person sessions. He has great tips to help truck drivers make their lives better and prevent cases that would lead them to severe healthcare problems.
Healthy food varieties to eat
Most experts will argue that one’s healthcare is dependent to a large extent on the kinds of foods taken, and this cannot be further from the truth. You need to be choosy on food varieties if you want to achieve your goal of leading a healthy life. Some of the foods that are most recommended for truck drivers include vegetables with hummus, which contains heart-friendly fats and lots of fiber that will help improve your health. Nuts can act as a replacement to snacks that give you fats that could make your health to deteriorate with time. Most nuts contain omega-9 fatty acids that are healthy to the body.
Flexing the mind
Most importantly, truck drivers need to watch over their mental health. It could prove frustrating to have to deal with different levels of stress, and the only way to clear one’s mind of such challenges is by embracing routines that can refresh the mind. Audiobooks, music and language tapes come in handy in this case and are a perfect solution when you want to keep your mind healthy.
Exercise often: some exercises you could try – no gym needed
Due to the nature of their work, truck drivers will often lack the motivation to exercise. Those who are always traveling will have to create time for exercise, and this is made more difficult by the fact that they don’t have a specific venue for exercise.
Shoulders are among the parts of your body that get affected by driving, and you could be feeling some pain due to holding on to the steering wheel for many hours. It is advisable to embrace shoulder shrugs as part of your exercise schedule. You can help release stress from your shoulders by lifting your shoulders and holding them up for several seconds then pushing them down and moving them in twisting motion. You don’t even need specific times of the day to do this as you could relieve the stress even while at a red light. Also, consider using abdominal crunches whereby you squeeze your abdominal muscles then hold it for at least two minutes. These are things you can do even when driving and you don’t need to go to the gym. Nancy says that she does some of these exercises right in her office at Behrman. Usually, she does them in between meetings or conferences, but they work and help relieve stress.
Get quality sleep
Nothing supersedes you’re well being, and even if you have to work hard to keep moving, you need to sleep. As a truck driver, you might be having problems sleeping well, and this could deteriorate your health if it continues longer. Quality sleep is all you need in this case, and you can achieve this in several ways. First, ensure that you take a light meal before going to bed to give your body space and flexibility it requires at this time when you want to relax.
Light could also spoil your chances of getting quality sleep, so if you are sleeping in your sleeper cabin, you need to use blackout curtains to keep the place darker during the day. Additionally, you could wear a sleep mask to keep your eyes covered, which ensures you are not interrupted by ay lights while sleeping. Artificial lighting sources are also a nuisance when you need sleep most, and so you should make sure you don’t have your laptop or phone close to the bed.
Time with family
The joy that comes with spending time with family cannot be achieved when one decides to commit all the time to work. Life becomes more interesting when there is room for family, and this can be achieved if as a driver you can plan your days well. Spending time with family gives you a new chance to feel appreciated and to receive the love you probably miss while on your way to deliver cargo. It is the best decision you could make as your family can also observe you to advise you on some of the things they think you miss to make your life better.