As the New Year rolls in, it’s a good time to start thinking about how you can make this year better than the last. When your life is on the road it can be challenging to think of what it means to change your routine and especially, how to get started.
Start Your New Year Off Right!
New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be big life changes, they can be little changes that make each day a little better. Our advice? Start small. Small changes make a big difference and setting goals for yourself is healthy. You can even try writing them down to hold yourself accountable! In case you’re stuck on ideas, here are 5 resolutions to help kick start your year:
1. Eating Healthy
I know what you’re thinking. Eating healthy is everybody’s New Year’s resolution! That being said, it is for a good reason. Healthy eating for a truck driver is definitely challenging but also doable (with a bit of will-power and planning). Luckily, restaurants, fast food chains, and even some rest stops have shifted towards healthier options and if you plan ahead, you can avoid them altogether. Make a goal of pre-packing snacks and make little changes to improve your diet. Here are some ideas:
- Don’t skip breakfast!
- Pack protein bars – they are a quick and healthy fix!
- Stay away from refined sugars.
- Plan ahead and bring healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts, vegetables, and even beef jerky or pepperoni.
- Less soda, more water.
2. Make the Most of Your Time on the Road
Although it is exhausting to constantly be on the road, you do get to see a lot. In 2018, take a look around you and make the most of it! When you are off duty, check out local attractions or well known restaurants. You might find some of your favourite places to visit!
A great resource to find out what is around you is the website RoadTrippers. Regardless of where you are, type in your route and see what there is to see and do along the way or what’s at your final destination!
3. Sleep Better
Not only is a good night’s sleep one of the biggest contributors to improving your personal health, but sleep deprivation is
also an important safety issue for drivers. Making sure you are well rested and
energized is essential when you are
on the road. Statistics show that most adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
Do you have trouble sleeping? There are apps for that! If you find podcasts peaceful, try Sleep With Me Podcasts or simply download the White Noise app to help you relax.
4. Plan Your Trip!
There are many benefits to planning your trip ahead of time. When you plan ahead of time, you can relieve the stress of looking for a safe location to stop or having to find a good place to eat. Trip planning helps to avoid severe weather, and helps to find rest areas, repair shops, restaurants, and hotels along the way! If you add this to your New Year’s resolution list, try downloading TruckerPath to help you get ahead of the game!
5. Keep your Rig Clean
From the outside of your truck to the inside of your cab, it’s important to keep things organized and tidy. When you spend most of your time in your truck, you will want to be in a clean environment. Good organization will also make the inside of your vehicle less cluttered, making your space feel larger. If that’s not enough to put this on your New Year’s resolution list, a messy truck is also a major red flag for DOT inspectors. Steer clear of fines this year and keep your rig clean!
Do You Have an ELD Yet?
Another great resolution is to focus on your safety and compliance! Cross achieving electronic logging device (ELD) compliance off of your New Year’s resolution list with BigRoad’s DashLink ELD! Buy now and you’ll even get 3 MONTHS FREE!
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