Can Meditation Reduce Your Road Rage?

After driving the roads and highways for some years, or by even scrolling the endless feed in the troughs of social media, more than likely you’ve come across road rage scenarios when arguing over a parking space or getting cut off leads to a series of horrible traffic maneuvers or an unnecessary accident. Our levels of awareness are heightened when driving and it’s almost too easy sometimes to allow our emotions slip during a simple errand run to the grocery or when driving on a road trip. 

There may be no cure for road rage until our cars advance to the point where they fully function alone by themselves, and even then people will find a way to flip the bird at each other, but in the meantime while humankind is still cruising the earth by their own means of transportation, here are some healthy meditation techniques that may help keep you cool when driving or dealing with an enraged commuter.

When to meditate and why

Why meditate? Meditating does wonders for most people and you don’t have to be a yoga guru or spiritual minded person to benefit. Meditation isn’t easy. It takes practice and mindfulness. Every meditation is a learning experience with self discovery and it can alter your mindset when facing real world scenarios. Especially behind the wheel of a car.

If you’ve never tried meditation, it’s quite simple. Find a quiet place, close your eyes, straighten your posture and be still. That is it. And your vehicle when in park is the ultimate place for even a five minute meditation session. You can meditate before bed, first thing in the morning, or even in your car before a long road trip or a trip to the office. Whenever you can find five to twenty minutes of silence throughout the work day, take it, and be sure to set a timer so you don’t fall asleep. By doing this daily, it’s scientifically proven that it can change your brain state and mood.

The act of meditating is to shut off and reset. The day-to-day hustle and bustle of driving to work, paying bills, raising kids, and listening to the latest news scare can drive one insane and health experts have recommended meditating to routinely clear the mind of stress. The results to daily meditation can range from lowering blood pressure and anxiety, enhancing self-awareness, and bringing more kindness to your mood and attitude. 

Basic meditation techniques to remember

To fully benefit in meditation, your main priority is to let it go. Sounds simple, but with the amount of thoughts racing  through your head when you try to center yourself during a business day makes it extremely difficult to focus on absolutely nothing. Some days can be easy and some days can leave you still feeling crumby. But repetition and sticking to a meditation schedule can push you forth into a healthy balance.

One of the major ways to let go of your thoughts during a restful reset is to breathe deeply. Breathing is the main component to meditation and long deep breaths during a few moments of silence can go a long way. There are variations of breathing techniques and it’s best to find a meditation talk-through that provides patterns of breathing that help clear rampant thoughts.

Finding your meditation talk down

There are several major meditation channels online and accessible through Spotify, Apple Music, or any music listening platform. You want your meditation guide to have a voice that is soothing to you, direct, and comfortable. Suggested keywords for meditation discovery in various search bars are: daily meditation practices, meditation talk downs, rest in stillness, and clarity through mindfulness. 

Meditating in your car

A few minutes of quiet before the long drive is all you need. The great thing about car meditating is that you can crack the windows for some fresh air if you wish, your posture is adjustable in your seat, and you can plug your phone into the speakers and play your favorite meditation channel. There is no wrong way to meditate as long as you feel rested and clear after your session. It’s something to work at, but finding the self reflection through meditation and having enhanced self awareness while in motion can change your reaction time and safety when up against offensive drivers. 

Most likely there will always be crazy drivers on the roads and to avoid becoming an aggressive or offensive driver, meditating is a fantastic tool that can alter the way you react in high stress situations on and off the highways. Meditating can also be a physical task such as restoring your headlights or taking a road trip.