Perhaps you are driving home or going to work after an intense training workout at your gym, but your eyelids droop, and you cannot stop yawning, fighting yourself not to go to sleep after such a tiring day. So, how to drive safely after a workout? With the increasing number of people training every day, we thought to share some tips on how to ensure a relaxing drive after your training.
Car check-up
First things first, your car needs to be in perfect condition to drive safely. Cars need to be checked on a regular basis, besides doing all scheduled maintenance. You should always make sure that when you upgrade any of its components to buy them from a trusted brand. When looking for air intake systems to protect your engine, your supplier should carry aFe products to improve a car’s performance while staying safe. Make sure that it also has manufacturer warranties that guarantee your right to have the manufacturer pay for all repairs or replacements caused by defects in materials.
Do not over-train
A common mistake most people will do is over-training. Training too much at the gym can cause sleepless nights, dramatic performance drops, and drowsiness. If you over-train, most probably, you will be too anxious while driving; taking a nap will be your only option to give your body some time to recover.
Stretch after training
Stretching is important to do before and after training. It can improve muscle recovery by reducing lactic acid, relaxes your mind and body, and helps in your body’s circulation, which will loosen you up and makes you stay sharp after training.
Eat after your workout
Many trainers encourage their customers to eat a small snack before training, such as a banana or a peanut butter sandwich and consume a high-protein meal afterward. So, driving after hitting the gym, when you are energy-drained and had nothing to eat yet, is quite risky. It is best to eat your meal or a small snack before getting behind those wheels, anything that will adjust your insulin level and help you focus while driving.
Stay hydrated
Constant dehydration causes poor temper, loss of energy, and inability to focus while driving. Most of us do not know the difference between being tired or dehydrated. Thus, it is better you consume enough water before, throughout, and after training. Everyone should consume at least two liters of water a day. But when you are working out and sweating, you need to drink more to replace lost fluids.
Play a mind game
If none of those tips helped you relax when driving after your workout, then you might work on powering your mind to keep yourself awake and focused. Try listening to powerful music and get those speakers pumping, or play mind games, anything to keep your mind to stay alert so you can focus on the road ahead.
Disconnected thoughts and being unable to remember the last few miles driven can overwhelm you while driving. It is best for your safety to stop the vehicle and try some of the mentioned tips, drink water, or eat your meal. In all cases, adjusting to a healthy lifestyle might have some hiccups at first, but you can overcome them all with little tweaks as mentioned above.
