I personally do not enjoy driving, and I do at times find it very stressful and upsetting (particular in rush hour traffic). I want to stress that driving is not for everyone and that many people go through their entire lives without owning or operating a vehicle. There are lots of other ways to get around, including public transportation and cycling, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to drive if you don’t want to.
That said, here are some tips to help you feel more comfortable behind the wheel…
1. Positive reinforcement. Start rewarding yourself anytime you go for a drive, even if everything didn’t go as smoothly as you wanted it to. What’s important is that you’re getting the experience, not how far you drive or how fast you go. Buy a bulk package of your favorite treats, and reward yourself for a job well done.
2. GPS. Don’t be afraid to use GPS, even if you already know where you’re going. Nobody is going to know you’re using GPS and most navigation apps will let you listen to music at the same time. I love Google Maps, especially because it lets you know a mile ahead of time if you’re going to need to make a turn. These specific directions will help focus you and make you feel more confident behind the wheel!
3. Beautiful Atmosphere. If you’re going to be spending a good amount of time traveling by car, you might as well keep your car as esthetically pleasing as possible. Buy yourself an air freshener, play relaxing music, take your car to the car wash on a regular basis to keep it vacuumed and clean. Adding some personal touches to your car will help you feel more at home on the road.
4. Go your speed. It’s true that most drivers will drive over the speed limit, but that doesn’t meant that you have to! If you’re on a two lane road, move over to the right lane to allow people to pass you (this lane is commonly referred to as the “slow” lane). If someone is driving on your butt and giving you anxiety, pull over to the side of the road to allow them to pass. I do this all the time. If you need to drive under the speed limit for any reason, use your hazard lights.
5. Call someone. If you’re anxious about driving by yourself, put a friend or family member on speaker and talk to them while you drive. It’s important that you get used to driving by yourself (alone in the car), but this way someone will be able to talk to you and encourage you if you need it. Remember to be safe and either use an aux cord to connect your phone to your speaker system, or to leave the phone on speaker. Never drive around with your phone under your ear!
Take your time- people learn to drive at their own pace and there is no schedule you need to follow. Good luck babe!
Additional Resources
Also, research public transit in your city. Find out how much it costs and whether you can get where you need to be using it.
As far dealing with family members pressuring you: I got a lot of mileage out of just shrugging and changing the subject- it also helped that my grandmother always ordered people to leave me alone about it, since she didn’t learn to drive until she was 21 and my grandfather taught her.
I’m 32 now, and I don’t even have a car. It can work to go without if you find you just can’t do it.
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