Lack of healthy rest, poor hygiene, and limited access to nourishing products – are only a few dangers that many owner-operators face daily. While staying healthy is critical for both personal well-being and professional performance, the risks of developing destructive habits or encountering dangerous germs are huge. Yet, simple measures help to protect health during demanding working days.
Table of Contents
Drink Lots of Fluids
Drinking lots of healthy liquids can be a useful tip when you are on the road. Owner-operators can buy drinks at roadside cafes, petrol stations, or food stores, however, such beverages often contain added sugars, caffeine, artificial colors, and flavors. That’s why it’s better to choose pure water to stay hydrated. Drink eight glasses of healthy liquids daily.
Ensure Nutrient and Vitamin Intake
It’s very important to eat rich-in-nutrient dishes, that contain proteins, microelements, and vitamins regularly. While it may be difficult always to find diverse healthy foods and drinks on the road, taking extra supplements and multivitamins can be a great idea as they may serve as an additional source of nutrients.
Maintain Proper Sleep
Sleeping disorders are well-known to many owner-operators, and are often caused by high levels of noise and light pollution. Insufficient sleep is associated with dangerous diseases like stroke, diabetes, neurosis, depression, etc.
Make sure, you have time to sleep at least seven hours a day. If you can’t stop in a hotel, create a cozy atmosphere in your cab. Use curtains to reduce light and buy earplugs not to allow noise to interrupt your rest.
Increase Activity
While visiting a gym may be unrealistic for an owner-operator job with its busy schedule, 15-minute cardio training can be a healthy solution. Develop a habit of doing some simple exercises or walking around a truck every time you stop for rest or food. Small portable equipment like resistance bands are ideal for quick training on the road.
Ensure Hygiene Practices
During the day an owner-operator may interact with dozens of dirty surfaces, which makes spreading diseases very easy. In order to secure your health, wash your hands every time when you get access to running water and soap. When there’s no opportunity to wash your hands with water, apply some amount of sanitizer on your hands or clean them with wet wipes.
Prioritize Your Health
Don’t allow your ambitions to make you forget that your physical and mental health is a priority. Include enough resting time in your schedule to restore proper rest after hard working days. It’s also important to stop working when you are sick or feeling unwell, as it may not only cause consequences but also create a risk of road accidents.
Setting a first-aid kit, think about medications that help you to fight pain, digestive disorders, and allergies, and also to reduce symptoms of flu and cold.
Control Stress Levels
Unfortunately, the work of any owner-operator is always associated with high-stress levels. Such conditions influence both physical and mental health, becoming a reason for burnout and depression. Think of things that usually make you feel better, listen to relaxing music, ask your friend for a supportive chat, or take an extra hour of rest.
Conclusion
Staying healthy is the top priority for any owner-operator. That’s why developing healthy habits and implementing useful practices on the way is very beneficial. While you can’t avoid dealing with negative factors, like lack of physical activities and lots of stress, you still can take some steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
