Becoming a truck driver is a lucrative and fulfilling career option. However, it can be difficult to stay healthy on the road, especially since the job requires so much sitting. Fortunately, there are ways to maintain your physical and mental health, stay energized, and prevent burnout. Here’s what you need to know. 

3 Ways Truck Drivers Can Maintain Their Health

1. Eat Healthy Foods

When you’re on the road, it can be tempting to eat fast food and snack on candy and chocolate bars. However, there are plenty of nutritious options for truck drivers, both at grocery stores and gas stations. Improving your diet will give you more energy, protect your heart, and help you feel better while driving. 

Some healthy snacks include pre-washed and cut fruit and pre-washed lettuce or spinach. For meals, grilled chicken provides plenty of protein, improves bone health, and boosts immunity. All you need to make it is a portable grill, which you can buy online or at a big-box store. 

2. Protect Your Mind

Driving for hours on end can become monotonous, so it’s crucial to keep your mind occupied. By varying your routine, you can avoid obsessive thinking and stay alert. First, listen to new kinds of music. Do you normally enjoy hard rock or country? Try classical music, like Richard Strauss, Franz Schubert, or Johannes Brahms. 

Second, purchase some audiobooks to listen to on the road. You can learn about subjects that interest you, whether you enjoy politics, travel, or pop culture. Finally, download an app or buy a CD to master a new language. While you may not become fluent right away, learning phrases in Spanish, Chinese, or Arabic may be helpful on the job.  

3. Exercise 

When you drive 10 or 11 hours a day, it can be challenging to get exercise in. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend much time working out to obtain the health benefits. For example, buy a pair of running shoes, and go for a 20-minute run during a break. 

Another option is to purchase a folding bicycle. Store it in the sleeper berth compartment while driving and toss it in the passenger seat before heading to bed. Ride around the outer edges of a parking lot to avoid traffic or look for trails near rest stops. 

If you’re looking to become a truck driver, contact Hamrick School. Serving Akron and Cleveland, OH, they’ve been helping students enter the trucking industry for over 30 years. In addition to offering training for the CDL exam, they’ll provide the advice you need to make more money while protecting your physical and mental health. Call (330) 239-2229 to set up a meeting with an admissions officer, or head to their website to learn more about their services. 

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