Nobody ever said trucking was easy. At times it’s backbreaking, sweaty and you are working all different times of the day and night and possibly not seeing the ones you love the most for weeks. You may have dispatchers telling you the customer is looking for their freight, the car in front of you just cut you off and now you have the receiver taking a piece out of you because you are a few minutes late.
You ask yourself, “How can I be happy when I feel I am always under stress”? The following are a few helpful hints on staying positive on a daily basis.
- Build relationships with your coworkers and customers.
– You have to agree when you build a relationship with the customer they are less likely to blow a fuse when you are a few minutes late. Having a positive relationship with coworkers and sharing a few laughs is a great way to start or end your shift.
- Surround yourself with positive people
– Stay away from coworkers who bring their negative energy into your life and your workspace. When you are among a group of coworkers and when that negative person enters the conversation that is your queue to leave.
- Exercise
– It does a body good to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. It helps relieve the stress within your body. I had a driver once tell me that he gets up every morning and reads for 30 minutes because he wants to be fully awake when he gets behind the wheel. As well if he is at a customer’s location for any length of time he goes for a walk.
- Smile more
– Smile when you greet your coworkers and customers. Everybody likes someone who smiles; it has a calming effect on people.
- Do something nice
– Does it not make you feel good to do something nice for someone else? I know when I go through a coffee store drive-thru and the person at the counter says, “The person ahead of you paid for your order”, it always makes me smile. It doesn’t always have to involve money; I have seen people brush the snow off another driver’s truck, hold the door open for someone and wish them a great day.
- Read Inspirational Material
– Develop the habit of reading good inspirational books and materials. When you read such books or messages on a daily basis, you develop the spirit of following good deeds in your daily life.
In closing, do not be too hard on yourself if you get pulled down. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how strong your intentions are to stay positive, you will find yourself pulled down. Be kind on yourself. Judging yourself will only add to the downward spiral. The best response is to wipe the dust off and come back more determined to succeed.
Be Great! Be Safe!