6 Ways To Have A Better Commute

In case this is your first time here or you don't follow me on any form of social media, you don't know that I commute for work. I only live about 30 miles from my job. However, the fastest I ever get home is about an hour. Last Friday, it took me two hours and ten minutes. I'm pretty much always in a constant state of hangry, traffic induced depression. 

 A few years ago, I commuted with my dad and we spent a minimum of 5 hours in a car each day. Last year, I drove about 120 miles a day from Monterey to where I work. Annnnnd this year, I'm only doing 60 miles a day. (haha only 60) Sadly, I consider myself an advanced level commuter. If you want pro tips, talk to my dad!

Here's what helps me stay semi-sane out their on the roads. For tips on being the best commuter ever, read this post from February of 2015.

• Music - A good playlist/podcast can change your commuting life. My current choice is Sam Hunt's album on repeat. If you don't have Amazon Prime Music, download the app. I like it waaaay better than Pandora. You can actually listen to the songs you want! No waiting and waiting  for the song you actually want to hear.
• Snacks - If I don't pack snacks, you better stay far, far away from me. I try to keep snacks in my bag, but I ALWAYS have a granola bar stashed in my car for those times I forget. This is going to sound so lame, but if traffic is really bad I'll play games while eating - like take a bite every minute or something. It stops me from eating my snack in two seconds and it helps time go by faster for me.
• Water - I will not leave the office without a water bottle or a Redbull (for those desperate days). I need something to wash down that granola bar and for as long as I can remember, my mom would always tell me to make sure I had snacks and water in my car in case something were to ever happen. Job well done, mom! 
• Sunglasses - There's this certain spot of my commute where the sun is KILLER. Without my sunglasses, I would without a doubt go blind and crash my car. I don't really wear sunglasses any other time besides when I'm sitting in traffic, so I always have a pair in my car. 
• Dance Parties - When I commuted from Monterey, I would ALWAYS have dance parties in the morning. I was so tired. It was dark. The drive was so slow. I would dance like a crazy person to keep myself awake. This is also a good way to improve your mood and to make friends with the people sitting in traffic next to you. 
• Motivational Mantras - I have two things I tell myself multiple times a day. The first is "You can't help if you're smarter than these people" and "You can't be stuck in traffic forever. This will be over soon!" The first one might be a little rude, but seriously, the road is a crazy place full of crazy, stupid people. The second is the whole truth. Sometimes it feels like I'll be stuck in my car forever, so I have to remind myself that I'll be home before I know it.

Do you commute? What are your tried and true tricks to surviving it? I would love to know!