Going on a Road Trip? Here’s How To Avoid Fatigue

Road trips are a great way to travel and we love them. It lets us explore more of the land, the culture, the food etc. We have had some of our best travel moments somewhere randomly on the road.

But road trips can leave you very tired as well, if you don’t follow some basic guidelines. Here’s what we do.

• Get plenty of sleep the day before. Long hours on the road need a good amount of concentration, so it’s extremely important that you are well rested to begin with.
• Avoid driving when you would normally be asleep or avoid driving at night. We avoid driving after sunset. We hate the high-beam headlights of cars which can disrupt your vision, making driving annoying and dangerous.
• Don’t rush. If you have a speed objective in mind, the anxiety can lead to early fatigue and also make you lose concentration. Highways are places where people potentially drive very fast. One needs all the concentration one can muster. When we reach our destination, our average speed is usually around a comfortable 60 kmph. Of course, there are stretches you drive faster.
• Change drivers. If you feel you are losing concentration, just ask your partner to take over.
• It helps if your partner isn’t sleeping. A good stimulating conversation is an excellent way to keep your fatigue low. We are blessed to have each other and driving long distances is fun! It’s also a great way to catch up on a lot of talk!
• One of the most important things is to switch the outside air circulation on. Long hours of highway driving can reduce oxygen supply in the car. If you aren’t keeping the windows open, do let the AC get outside air.
• Keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids. Long hours in the AC can dehydrate plus one has a tendency to drink less water when on the road.
• Do not drink alcohol. Its the worst thing you can do.
• The key for concentration is a steady dose of carbohydrates. Keep oat meal bars and cereal bars which you can keep munching. Avoid too much sugars like chocolates. Let your energy come from dry fruits and natural sugars.
• Keep caffeine at low levels. They say too much caffeine will lead to big peaks and crashes in your concentration and tiredness. Have a healthy energy drink with water. Its recommened to have an energy drink made of water, lemon, a tea bag and a pinch of glucose, giving you the right dose or energy and caffeine.
• Stop often. We do it naturally, to enjoy the scenery, take photos or a chai break. But if possible, stop and get out of your car every two hours, even if only for a few minutes.
• Enjoy your drive. This can’t be highlighted more. If a drive stresses you out DO NOT DO IT. You must enjoy driving long distances, enjoying the views, the conversations and of course being able to cope the the occasional road nuisance like traffic, other bad drivers etc.

What do you do to keep yourself fresh during road trips?