These tips to make your commute more enjoyable are sponsored by Contigo but all opinions expressed are my own.
When my husband and I lived in Texas we lived about 2 to 3 miles from work. We took our motorcycle in or rode our bikes. It was a pleasant trip and we got to work without too much stress. Fast forward a few years and we find ourselves in Atlanta. The houses ‘in the city’ that were close to my husbands job were way out of our price range so we ended up about 20 miles out of town in the ‘burbs’. The commute for my husband was something LESS than enjoyable. In fact, he was seriously miserable having to deal with city traffic every day. Does this sound familiar to you? Do you get home stressed out and cranky because you spend way too much time in your car during rush hour? Well, since most of us can’t afford to quit our jobs, making our commutes more enjoyable is a great way to reduce our stress levels. Contigo, maker of water bottles, travel mugs and sippy cups, is aiming to make more people aware of the issues surrounding commuting to work. Check out the infographic below and keep reading for a few tips on how to make your commute more enjoyable!
Tips to Make Your Commute More Enjoyable
1. Travel at off peak hours: See if your boss will let you avoid rush hour traffic by working slightly non traditional hours.
2. Find a buddy or van pool to share the work: If you only had to drive one way to work, or even drive to work only one or two days out of the week you would be a lot less stressed out. See if you can carpool to reduce stress and the cost of fuel.
3. Telework: Many employers are realizing that a lot of the work that is done in the office can also be done at home! Ask your boss if you can work from home one day a week.
4. Use aromatherapy to help you relax: If you absolutely must drive to and from work every day, add a relaxing smell to your car using aromatherapy. Skip the pine scented air fresheners than can sometimes be a little overwhelming and grab the essential oils instead. Lavender will help you relax and peppermint may help you stay more alert.
5. Give yourself something to listen to: Whether you subscribe to satellite radio or hit the library for some audio books, keeping your mind engaged during the drive will make it go by faster. Learn a new language, listen to a podcast, or rock out to some oldies…it will make your trip a little more enjoyable!
6. Give yourself extra time: Most of our stress during our commute stems from being in a hurry to get somewhere. Leave 15 minutes early in the morning to reduce your anxiety.
7. Get off the path most traveled: Start exploring alternative routes home. The highway may technically be faster but all that traffic creates an awful lot of stress. Make your commute more enjoyable by finding a side road that is a bit out of the way but much less popular.
8. Bring all the comforts of home: While you aren’t going to be bringing your slippers and knitting in the car (unless you are the one in the passenger seat!), make sure you have the essentials in your car to make your commute more comfortable. A beaded seat can help blood flow to your backside and a bottle of water can quench your thirst when you are stuck in a traffic jam. If you want a Starbucks double espresso to keep you awake for the ride home, make sure you bring a reusable travel mug to cut back on unnecessary trash.
I recently received a great selection of water bottles and travel mugs from Contigo to try out as my family zips from one place to another. If your business finds you spending a lot of time in planes, trains and automobiles then having a good water bottle and travel mug will make your journey more enjoyable. Contigo’s water bottles and travel mugs feature AUTOSEAL and AUTOSPOUT technologies that offer convenient, one-handed drinking solutions to make commuting or traveling easier on you, your clothes and your car. The AUTOSEAL technology automatically seals between sips, so you don’t have to worry about spilling your drink all over your car or yourself. The vacuum insulated AUTOSEAL Travel Mugs will keep drinks hot for up to 4 hours or cold for up to 12 hours. No more getting to work with cold coffee or hot water! Contigo has a wide variety of styles for their water bottles, travel mugs and kids sippy cups. The selection of sizes, colors and designs means that everyone can find the product that fit’s their lifestyle the best. I received the Westloop stainless steel travel mug and the Addison water botlle to try out for a few weeks.
Make Your Commute More Enjoyable With Contigo
The Addison water bottle comes in both a 24 and 32 ounce size. It has a one touch drink spout which allows you to open it with only one hand. A spout shield protects the spout from dirt when not in use. It is 100% BPA free and has an easy 2 finger handle to allow for easy carrying. It is made out of Tritan™, which makes it very durable and resistant to stains from dark colored drinks. It will also not retain odors from that berry flavored juice you might be carrying around in it. I took this water bottle on my trip to BlogHer Food last month and carried it around all weekend. It fit well in my mug holder in my car, slid easily into the side pouch of my backpack and was very comfortable to carry by the top handle as I walked around down town Austin. It was HOT in Texas and I was really glad I had decided to bring a reusable water bottle with me on my trip. Traveling by plane doesn’t mean you have to buy bottled water! Just bring an EMPTY water bottle through the security line and fill it from the water fountain on the other side! The Addison water bottle was perfect for my trip. We also received the larger 32 ounce size which my son has been using for tennis practice. He goes through a lot of water during an hour of tennis out in the summer heat so this larger size is perfect for his workout. There is no ‘plastic’ smell to this bottle and no funny taste to you water even if you leave it sitting in there all day.
The AUTOSEAL® West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug holds 16 ounces and comes in a wide variety of colors to suit your own personality. Everything from rather neutral black and gunmetal to vibrant green and purple. The patented AUTOSEAL® lid is 100% leak-proof and 100% spill-proof. It automatically seals between sips to make sure there are no spills. The contoured shape makes it easy to hold and it fits in most standard cup holders. Honestly, the design of this travel mug is ingenious! I have a mug now that takes two hands and an act of God to get open. Then, it stays open during the entire time it has liquid in there which means it is always losing heat (or cold) and spilling on things. The fact that the this Contigo mug seals back up every time you are done using it makes it so much easier to use! It is the perfect size, comfortable to hold and fits in my car’s cup holder. Overall, a great addition to a happy commute!
Use the Code COMMUTERPROMO for 20 percent off an order at GoContigo.com
The Giveaway
Contigo would like to give one of my readers the chance to win FIVE of their products for themselves. The winner will be able to choose from:
Travel mugs: West Loop and Randolph
Water bottles: Addison, Madison and Striker
This is a Giveaway Tools contest so follow the directions in the form to enter.
Entry
-Form
Disclaimer: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received product samples and promotional items in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Some of the links in this post may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
By entering this giveaway, you release this blog and it’s owner from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, mis-delivery or acceptance of any prize.