< Back to Articles

Stress Relief for Any Woman's Daily Commute

By Cynthia J. Porter, PhD

Does it feel as if you are spending more and more time in your car? Well, you're not imagining it. According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average woman now spends 64 minutes a day in her car, up 13 percent from ten years ago.

You're probably making more stops along the way, too. In fact, 61% of women make at least one stop during the commute home—and 30 percent make two or more stops.

Another factor to commuter stress for women is that they are three times more likely to have children in the automobile with them. The stress level will often soar in the morning when moms are trying to get their kids to school and themselves to work on time. "I sometimes feel like I have three jobs," says Fran Spelgatti, mother of three who works as a consultant for Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers. "I can't imagine what my stress level would be if I didn't know how to practice self hypnosis."

Stress is not something that happens to us, it happens through us. Here are some techniques you can use to keep your stress level down before, during and after your commute:

• Listen to a self hypnosis process in the morning before you get out of bed. It's simple to set your alarm 15 or 20 minutes early, then click on your iPod and let yourself doze while the positive suggestions flow through your subconscious. You will awaken feeling refreshed and energetic…ready to take on whatever your day has to offer. There is simply no better way to relieve stress.
• Listen to self-help and motivational books on tape during your commute. Drivers who do this say that the drive goes faster, they feel calmer when arriving at work, and they feel good about how well they are managing stress.
• If you prefer to listen to music, avoid rock music—it's proven to raise stress levels. A better choice for managing stress is light jazz or classical which produce alpha and theta brainwave frequencies. These are the brain waves associated with creativity, inventiveness, and stress relief. Plus, classical music has been proven to lower blood pressure.
• Listen to a self hypnosis process as soon as you get home in the evening. That 20-minute catnap can create miracles in your life—you will be more relaxed throughout your evening, will be much less likely to overeat, and your family will probably enjoy your company more.

When you make the above tips your routine, you may find yourself sleeping less, getting more accomplished, and enjoying your drive—and your life—more than ever before. Keep in mind that handling stress is up to you. And about all those stops you make on your way home—researchers found that men make less than half the stops that women do. So next time you need something at the grocery store, ask him to pick it up.

Author Information:

Cynthia J. Porter is a certified hypnotherapist. She has worked with the renowned Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers franchise since its inception. Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers are located in cities across the US. For information on their services or to purchase self hypnosis audio recordings visit www.positivechanges.com

Be sure to sign-up for our free monthly newsletter. You'll learn new ways to motivate yourself, more efficient and effective ways to exercise, important nutritional information and much more.