Getting from Point A to Point B used to be a challenge of physical endurance and mental strength. If you’ve played the game The Oregon Trail, you can only imagine how fit you’d have to be in order to make it across the country. Nowadays, everyone tries to put in as little effort as possible, as we’re even moving closer to cars that drive themselves. While I’m not asking you to ford any rivers, it wouldn’t hurt to think about turning your daily commute into something a little bit more rigorous. Here are a few things to try differently:
1. Put your phone away – Throw it in the trunk and focus on the road. You’re not an exceptional driver if you can send a text while moving from one light to another. You’ve left four cars behind you at the last light because it took you far too long to react to the light turning green since you were staring at your phone. You just didn’t realize and you’re far too slow to react (visit Car Seat Experts for more). Think of this as mental agility. Work on your reaction time by keeping your eyes on the lights and being ready to react in a timely manner with the accelerator and brakes.
2. Use your indicators – Eye-hand coordination is typically only developed through certain sports but it will deteriorate without contsant use. If you never developed those skills, you should take every opportunity you can get now to do so. Remember, most people struggle with exercise because they lack basic motor skills including eye-hand coordination. These are the building blocks along with mobility and stability to do more rigorous workouts that will burn more calories. Indicating at every opportunity is a great way to drill this.
3. Control your vehicle – Anti-lock brakes are a great invention but don’t take anything for granted. There is rarely a need to slam on the brakes or go full throttle on the accelerator if you’re paying attention and using your depth perception to time your moves. Just like lifting weights and controlling the negative or eccentric phase, you should aim to speed up or down at a steady pace. I’ve driven nearly 30 straight hours before and my lower legs were exhausted. Driving this way can be a true calf and tibia workout.
4. Test the elements – Thermoregulation is the act of your body maintaining it’s 98.6 degree goal temperature. I know how badly you want to change the heat and a/c constantly so you’re comfortable but try to keep those off and use either the outside air temperature or dressing properly to reach your goal. Thermoregulation can burn far more calories than maintaining homeostasis, so if you are trying to lose weight, that extra effort can make a difference. More than physical conditioning, like sitting in a sauna, that torture can make your willpower far greater than it currently is.
5. Don’t drive – Cars are huge vehicles and even though being completely focused on driving can be a much more physically and mentally active effort than just “driving,” it still isn’t going to do the same as an intense training session. Driving a boat can be exhausting, motorcycles even more so, but non-motorized vehicles such as bikes, skateboards, roller-blades, and your own two feet are on a whole different level. That extra mile walk to the bus stop every day (Fit walks to the bus every day for work!) or the 6-mile bike trek to work could take the exact same amount of time as driving your car but will burn countless more calories, not to mention, be endlessly better on your posture. Hip-flexion for hours on end in the car every day spells tight hamstrings and lower back pain. Switch it up if the weather permits.
You might not have time to make it to the gym every day, but there isn’t any reason to think that what you do every day can’t be made into a workout. A healthy and active lifestyle is the key to staying hungry and fit!
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