Consider THIS brain quirk BEFORE getting back behind the wheel
During the peak of the pandemic, it was an eerie sight out on the highways of America.
They were empty!
Most folks stayed home if they could…
And some folks are STILL staying home… especially if they haven’t got an office to report to.
If you’re one of them… and you’re thinking about getting back “out there” soon…
There’s something you need to know.
Getting back into your daily routine might NOT be just like riding a bike!
Your brain could use a little “warmup time”… just like your engine.
Here are the dangers that could be waiting for you in your own backyard or driveway… or your local 18 holes.
King of the road
When you’re behind the wheel every day, it can be tough to remember that you’re operating heavy machinery!
But no matter if it’s a teeny-weeny subcompact or a rugged SUV or pickup, your car can be a LETHAL weapon.
If it’s been a while since you’ve been in the driver’s seat… DON’T underestimate how absence could make the brain grow foggier!
The Washington Post recently reported how some folks seem to have “forgotten how to drive“…
In the wake of stay-at-home orders, quarantines, and other guidances that kept some of us off the roads for MONTHS…
Or even A YEAR or more.
That’s because the act of driving taps into a form of long-term memory that’s known as “procedural memory“…
And if you haven’t FLEXED that part of your brain in a while… it could get a little rusty.
You could remember the name of your favorite restaurant… and the BEST way to get there… clear as day.
But pulling out of the driveway… or pulling into a parking spot when you get there… could be a different story.
The same goes for any other activity that requires SKILLED motor function and SHARP reflexes…
Like pushing or riding your lawn mower… revving up your motorboat… or getting the golf cart going.
You might have to think a little bit harder before shifting into gear… or maneuvering a sharp curve…
And that’s OK.
You’re not alone.
Take all the time you need – because your brain has to work pretty hard to get back into the swing of things.
Consider starting off slow… taking quick, easy trips just during the day…
And leave the night driving… and the three-point turns or parallel parking… for when you’ve gotten back into the groove.
You could even make sure you’ve got a “co-pilot” in the passenger seat – someone to lend an extra set of eyes to identify hazards.
After all, pretty much everybody else on the road is driving with somewhat of a handicap, too…
And while you might be doing EVERYTHING right… you’ve got to be prepared for other drivers doing EVERYTHING wrong!
Especially the ones who saw the pandemic-era empty streets as an opportunity to become a speed demon…
And DIDN’T slow down when normal traffic patterns returned.
That means leaving your phone out of reach… and maybe even keeping the radio or CD player off.
You don’t need ANY distractions.
And last but not least, make sure you’re as alert as you can be while you’re on the road (or lawn, or water).
Avoid “sleeping pills” and other drowsy-making meds the night before… as they can have lingering effects the next day.
In a 2015 study, certain sleep meds were associated with DOUBLE the risk of a motor vehicle accident.
A 2019 study found that prescription opioid use was associated with a 72% increased risk of fatal car crashes.
To easing back into your routine,
Sarah Reagan
P.S. Friend, “quarantine brain” is a REAL thing. To find out how to recognize the signs… and REVERSE it… just click right here.
