We all know someone who seems to get exceptionally angry while driving. Maybe we are that someone, or maybe it’s someone we frequently drive with. While “road rage” is common in our society of frequent commutes on congested highways, it can be dangerous in more ways than one.
The American Psychological Association reports that drivers who experience road rage are more likely to take driving risks and are also more likely to wind up in an accident. Also, all of that anger and stress, especially if it compounds on a regular basis, can be hazardous to your health.
So how does one get road rage under control? Try these 12 tips:
Get enough sleep
If you’re exhausted and bleary-eyed during your morning commute, it may be much more difficult to stay level-headed. Additionally, if you work a long day on little sleep, you may be feeling even worse in the afternoon.
Be sure to get at least seven hours (eight is preferable) of quality sleep per night, even if it means changing up your evening schedule so that you can hit the sack sooner. If you start each day feeling well rested, it becomes much easier and more natural to calm yourself down should you feel driving anger taking hold.
Eat a healthy breakfast 
Many people rush out the door in the morning without eating a healthy breakfast — and this can be hugely problematic. Hunger may lead to anger, and if you’re driving on an empty tank, with low blood sugar, you may well see your anger escalate at the traffic around you. Be sure to start the day right with a nutritious breakfast!
Try morning exercise
If you’re prone to road rage (or any other type of anger), the trick might be to let off some steam! Doing a moderate- to high-intensity workout first thing in the morning, such as jogging or kickboxing, may bring a huge amount of stress-relieving benefits.
Not only will a good exercise session get your heart pumping and the endorphins flowing through your body, it should also help to release any pent-up rage that may be building throughout the week.
Meditate
Nothing calms the mind and soothes the spirit quite like meditation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anger, try fitting in a Kelee meditation session before you have to drive. Even five to 10 minutes in the morning, on your lunch break or before you drive home, if possible, may work wonders.
It’s also a great way to soothe your body and mind before it’s time to sleep in the evening, allowing you to be well rested for the following day.
Breathe deeply 
When faced with escalating road rage, it’s imperative to your health, sanity and safety to regain control, find your center and unwind. One way to do this in the moment is to focus on breathing deeply. Make your breath slow and steady, let the rushing, angry thoughts pass through you and keep your attention on the road, not what the other drivers are doing.
It may seem too simple, but it’s amazing how much slowing down your breath can relax your mind.
Put it in perspective
One way to cool down from anger on the road — a way that supplements deep breathing — is to put your anger in perspective. Maybe someone cut you off and you’re furious. However, take a deep breath and think about how much worse you will feel if you total your car, or worse — injure yourself or someone else in an accident.
Listen to soothing music 
If it doesn’t distract from your driving, try turning on some soothing tunes in your car. This can be whatever soothes you — some are soothed by classical or jazz, others unwind to heavy metal — as long as it gets you into the present moment and allows you to transcend your road rage.
Take the scenic route 
Let’s face it: Taking the highway is the road to most road rage. If possible, try taking an alternate route. Those winding country roads may add a few minutes to your commute, but they’ll likely be much less stressful and boast better scenery. A calmer drive is worth leaving a few minutes earlier for.
Try a greener commute
If your job isn’t located too far from your home, why not walk or bike instead? Weather permitting, these are great ways to avoid driving, and you’ll get some exercise and fresh air, too! If you live a bit further away, why not take the bus? It may take longer, but you won’t find yourself freaking out in the driver’s seat.
Another option if your workplace is a bit of a haul from your home is to drive part of the way, find a safe place to park and walk or bike the rest of the distance. This may allow you to avoid driving through some of the most congested parts of the city.
Choosing green transportation, at least a couple days a week, could do wonders for your stress level — and it’s great for the environment, as well.
Carpool for mutual stress relief 
Another way to help battle your road rage is to carpool, or find a “road-rage buddy,” or “anti-road-rage squad.” If you live and work close to a friend who also has road-rage issues, you could drive to work together and take turns driving and calming each other down.
If you have several friends who live closeby and work within a close proximity, this could become a group project!
Journal
Journaling is extremely therapeutic and a great way to express your feelings and alleviate tension in a healthy way. When you get home from a particularly stressful day, take a few moments to write about it.
Get to the root of your anger
If you find yourself getting angry often, whether on the road or in other circumstances, there may be underlying anger issues in your life that you may not be consciously aware of. Meditation, journaling and talking to close friends can help.
However, if it’s a serious problem and it’s negatively impacting your life, it may help to seek out a counselor so you can get to the bottom of these issues and work through them.
Do you have any tips and tricks that keep you sane on the road? Let us know!
—Tanya Rakhmilevich
Tanya is a writer at The Alternative Daily with a passion for meditation, music, poetry, and overall creative and active living. She has a special interest in exploring traditional Eastern remedies and superfoods from around the globe, and enjoys spending time immersed in nature.