Drivers: Pain, Stress, Tension, Low-Moods – they all affect everyone at some point in their lives. Everyone has different levels of tolerance. As far as I’m concerned, there is not a one-size fits all approach to treating any of these concerns. It’s why I use a range of therapies and treatments, mixing and matching them within the same treatment session if possible, to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms.
From what I have experienced with drivers, they:
- Sit all day,
- Have muscular and skeletal problems,
- Suffer pain and irritability,
- Have a poor diet and lack hydration.
The pain, diet and job leads to tiredness.
Add tiredness to pain and irritability, and they tend to take that home with them.
This causes tension at home, which can lead to anger and frustration.
Add this all together, and you suffer STRESS!
You can start to make small daily changes to ease your own symptoms.
Eat Your Water
Delivery drivers and driving instructors especially, appear to be quite poor at staying hydrated. They tend to not want to drink water in order to reduce the need for using the loo. My advice is to eat your water to stay hydrated.
Watermelons, cucumbers, strawberries, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, celery, green & yellow peppers, cauliflower – all are over 90% water.
Grapefruit, baby carrots, cantaloupe melon – 90% water.
Bananas – only 74% water but high in potassium which is an important electrolyte needed to ease dehydration.
It’s easy to make salads and soups using these ingredients (no added salt though)
Reduce Pain – while at work
Ensure your seats are comfortable for you!
Do NOT sit on wallets, phones, or have anything else in your back pocket. It puts your spine out of alignment.
Face forward.
Knees slightly higher than hips.
Back against car seat.
Small in-car ankle and ham strings exercises, shoulder rolls and head and neck exercises will all help to east tension.
Consider how you are working on laptops and phones, while ‘not working’
A small irritant can lead to a big pain later! Do not ignore them!
Small regular breaks.
Move as much as you can.
Walk around the car.
Stretch!
Moving stimulates blood circulation, bringing nutrients and oxygen to your spines and muscles.
Reduce pain – when not at work
Stand as much as you can! Move as much you can! Get your glutes working!
Have spine & muscle massage treatments (helps you to relax and switch off too!)
Reduce Stress, Tension and Burnout.
Ensure you switch off!
Be strict with your hours.
Set boundaries – and stick to them.
Have a ‘finishing work’ routine.
Have fixed bed time & routine.
Diarise ‘me time’.
Relax.
Have massage treatments.
Practise meditation & mindfulness.
Exercise.
Become aware of when you are stressed. Monitor your breathing and posture. Listen to your mind and body.
Talk to someone.
Eat well. Take time out. Meditate. Breathe properly. Massage. Exercise. Set boundaries. Sleep well.
I love treating pain, stress, depression and anxiety using a range of natural therapies including spinal correction (Dorn Method), various massage techniques, hypnotherapy, NLP/Empowerment Coaching and well as other treatments to help you relax and switch off.
Workshops available for meditation and mindfulness, understanding stress and anxiety, stress management and techniques to switch off.
I can make your mind and body feel better again. Let’s have a chat and see how. 01889 808388 tracey@plumessencetherapies.co.uk plumessencetherapies.co.uk