New Year is a great time to look back at the year behind us and plan for the one that’s coming. When we make resolutions, it’s important to be realistic and set goals we can actually meet so that we don’t end up disappointed when we aim too high and fail.
The main focus of this blog post is to provide ideas for resolutions that can help you lead a happier life as a truck driver.
Look out for the environment
We all need to take care of our environment the best way we can because we depend on it to be happy and healthy. It has been known for years that people create too much waste which is polluting our waters, the air we breathe, and our land. However, it’s still not too late to do something about it.
Make it a goal for next year to reduce the amount of waste you make. No one is expecting you to do a complete 180°, so start small:
- Buy a portable, steel knife, spoon, and fork set to take on the road instead of using plastic ones once and throwing them away.
- Buy reusable paper towels.
- Separate and recycle your trash.
Look out for other truck driver
Life isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be unbearable, and one way to make it easier is if we help each other out. If you can, remember to pay it forward at a truck stop and make sure someone has a nice cup of coffee. Even a gesture as small as that will make a great difference.
Truck stops aren’t exactly the safest places on Earth, and one way we can start changing that is if we speak up. Whenever you see something suspicious, don’t hesitate to get help and speak up. Turning a blind eye will only allow for more bad things to happen. There are many organizations that work with truck drivers and law enforcement to prevent human trafficking, and they’re worth checking out.
Look out for yourself
If something goes wrong in an airplane, there is a reason why you should put your oxygen mask first and then put it on your child, and the reason is simple – if you don’t help yourself, there will be no one to help your child. The same rule applies to everyday life. If you aren’t happy and healthy, you can’t be expected to be a helpful team member and a good truck driver. Although you can’t control every aspect of life, there is still something you can do to help yourself.
- Exercise – As a professional truck driver, you spend most of your time at work sitting down, which can take its toll on your body; back pain and leg pain can seriously affect your driving skills, and lack of exercise combined with extensive sitting can lead to more serious health issues like blood clots. So, in the following year, try to incorporate more exercise into your life. Their simple exercises you can do while on the road, and remember that even a daily walk makes all the difference.
- Work on your mental health – Your mind is as important as your body and deserves to be taken care of. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, just as you wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor if you had a fever. You are most definitely not the only one facing that specific problem, even though it might seem like it right now. Be kind to yourself and work on your mind; there are several ways to do that:
- Read more, or listen to audiobooks.
- Stock up on various entertainment and keep your mind stimulated with informative content – documentaries, movies, TV shows, magazines, podcasts, the options are endless.
- Try keeping a journal.
- Pick up a hobby you can do on the road, like photography.
Make time for friends and family
Spending time away from loved ones can affect our health, and one of the easiest New Year’s resolutions to make and uphold is making time for your friends and family. Technology today allows us to in a matter of seconds speak face-to-face with someone who is thousands of miles away from us. Use that tech to maintain precious relationships, because a friendly smile is all that’s needed to change a grumpy mood. Try randomly calling friends and family just to see how their day has been. It will mean the world to them, and remember – you always reap what you sow, so the more good you put into this world, the more it will be returned to you.
From our trucking family to your own, we wish you a happy and prosperous new year!