Driving should be a joy, but all too often, it can feel like a chore.
And that’s maybe not so surprising, given how much time we spend behind the wheel, and where we’re typically driving to. The average American driver spends around 45 - 60 minutes driving each day, which equates to some 15 days every single year. Most of that time is spent driving to work, the store, or running other errands.
In that climate, it’s natural that we begin to develop a less-than-joyous relationship with our vehicles and driving.
But we think that driving should be enjoyable. After all, it’s a privilege that we’d much rather live with than without. The good news is that, as we’ll show below, it’s absolutely possible to put the fun back into driving. Take our tips on board, and it won’t be long before you’re looking forward to getting behind the wheel.
Change Your Commute
Is there anything more soul-destroying than sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, crawling your way to work? Not in our book. Doing it once is bad enough. Doing it every day is a real energy drain.
If possible, look at changing your commute route. Most apps are geared towards showing you the fastest route, but it can be a lot more fun to drive the most enjoyable route. One that’s filled with trees and views will be a lot better than a route that’s full of concrete, even if the drive technically takes a little bit longer.
Upgrade Your Vehicle
Nothing lasts forever. While your car might once have been a source of joy, if it’s past its best, then it’s likely that it’s negatively impacting your enjoyment of being on the roads. That’s especially true if your vehicle is continually experiencing issues that impact its performance and reliability.
When that point arrives, consider upgrading your vehicle. There are plenty of new and used cars available on the market that will help to put the fun back into driving. After all, there aren’t too many things more enjoyable than getting into the driver’s seat of a vehicle that’s significantly better than the one that you’ve been driving.
Playlists, Podcasts, and Audiobooks
Driving can sometimes feel like “dead time,” in which you’re simply moving yourself from one place to another. A good strategy for improving your relationship with driving is to look at putting your time behind the wheel to good use, such as by curating a playlist, discovering new commute-friendly podcasts, and listening to audiobooks.
What’s interesting about this approach is that it doesn’t just make your journeys more manageable. It can actually make you excited for long journeys. In addition to listening to entertainment-based audiobooks and podcasts, you can also use your driving time to learn a new skill, such as learning a new language.
Lower The Costs
Even people who generally like driving can find that their enjoyment of getting behind the wheel is significantly reduced if they feel like their car is having an outsized negative impact on their bank balance.
With gas and insurance costs rising, many drivers are beginning to feel the pinch when it comes to their car-related expenses, which can produce a subtly negative pressure that really sucks the fun out of buckling up.
While you can’t eliminate driving-related costs completely, there are ways to keep the costs down. Perhaps the most effective way is to adjust your driving style so that it’s MPG-friendly. Many people spend more on gas than necessary because they have an aggressive driving style. In addition, splitting the costs where possible, such as offering rides to colleagues in exchange for gas/parking money, can make a big difference.
Take a Road Trip
Even people who love driving will find that it’s not quite as fun when all they’re doing is using their vehicles to take care of business. One fun option for making driving more enjoyable is to take a road trip, which, in our book, really demonstrates the very best of driving in all its glory. Embarking on one of the USA’s great road trips is an excellent way to feel the full freedom of the road, which is just why we fell in love with driving in the first place.
Try Public Transport For a Week
Finally, if the above tips don’t work, then you can also take the Hail Mary approach to improving your relationship with driving: relying on public transport for a week. After a few days of missed connections and slow journeys, you’ll be running back to your car.
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