The trucker’s life is all about open roads, deadlines to meet, working hard, and lone soul to get your job done. Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran truck driver, it’s normal to feel uneasy being alone on the open road. Being away from home and family for long periods of time can make you feel homesick from time to time.
Homesickness for truck drivers can be in many forms, such as being anxious, irritable, tense, or just constantly thinking about home. Some truck drivers drink alcohol to forget this homesickness. This is the reason why some get caught and accused of a DUI (Driving Under the Influence).
These feelings may just be an annoyance to other professionals as these can present a severe risk to a truck driver’s quality of work. Any type of distraction can affect the overall experience easily in a job that requires long hours, vigilance, and technical precision.
Unfortunately, this is the real nature of the trucking lifestyle. The good thing is there are all kinds of strategies for fighting homesickness on the road.
In this article, I will help you battle these feelings of loneliness so you can get the most and enjoy your trucking career.
1. Bring Home on the Road
It’s a good idea to make your truck feel as homey as possible since you’ll be spending most of your time here., Taping up pictures of your family in your truck and bringing a cozy blanket from home to use when you sleep. This way, you can have a bit piece of a home with you wherever you go. Asking your family members to write you letters is another good idea, so you have something open while you’re driving down the road.
2. Don’t Ignore Your Feelings
This seems obvious, but trying to fight feelings of homesickness or ignoring it is not a good idea. Downplaying your feelings will only make them worse in the long run. It’s important to realize that feeling homesick is natural. Feeling this doesn’t make you any less of a truck driver.
3. Communicate with Your Family Regularly
With today’s technology, it’s not hard to see your family daily. There are Skype and Facetime you can use virtually. A quick phone call can turn your feelings of homesickness around. So, set a time to call or video chat with your loved ones.
Keep in mind that though it may feel natural to talk about work, try to change topics, and focus on other things when you’re chatting with family. Ask them to tell you stories about what happened to them throughout the day.
4. Mingle with Other Truck Driver
While relaxing by yourself is something you may be inclined to do during downtime, you should try to talk with your fellow truckers. Since you’re all in the same boat, so why not talk about it? Making friends at truck terminals is a great way to cope with feelings of loneliness on the road.
5. Take Care of Yourself
It’s easier to feel down if you’re physically feeling unwell. That said, it’s important to try your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By eating balanced meals, drinking plenty of water, and getting a good amount of sleep, you’re kind to your body.
Moreover, it’s not a bad idea to exercise when possible. Taking a short walk at a truck stop can help to improve your mood gradually.
6. Make the Most of Your Time at Home
It’s important to make your time at home as valuable and enjoyable as possible. Try not to sit in front of the TV or computer all day. Hang out with your family! Relaxing time is essential, but so is making memories with your loved ones. Plan a day trip or any fun activity when you get home. Not only will it create memories, but it will give you something to look forward to.
7. Keep Yourself Occupied
Finding a hobby or anything that takes your mind off things is a way to fight homesickness. Whether it’s a new TV show, an entertaining podcast, or a good book, a pastime is a great way to keep yourself busy when you’re not on the road.
Bottom Line
The open road and independence are the primary rewards that come with trucking. There is a good reason why truckers are proud of their career. However, homesickness can be felt at times, but I hope that the above tips can make it a little easier.
While there are many challenges to this industry, money is not one of them as it’s a good income generator. Luckily, by getting CDL training from us, working in a trucking industry is within your reach.