The holidays can be inescapable. At every grocery story, every convenience store, and even gas stations, you can listen to all the Christmas jingles, over and over again. But for long-haul truck drivers who travel for weeks at a time, the holidays can be a lonely time.
There are many perks to being a truck driver – seeing the country, good pay, minimal training – but living out of an 18-wheeler isn’t for everyone. The experience can be isolating, especially when the driver has a significant other, a spouse, or a child at home.
Here are 5 tips to survive the holidays:
- Keep in Touch.
You may be in a truck, but you’re not in the International Space Station. There are lines of communication open to you, and thanks to modern technology, you can see and hear your loved ones while lying in the sleeper berth.
Reassure your loved ones frequently during the holiday season with FaceTime, Skype, and other programs. Drop an extra text or phone call, and let them know you’re thinking of them. Truck drivers don’t need to be stoics, and it’ll help your mood to keep in touch.
- Plan an Event When You Get Back.
What’s in a date? A date is the only a number in the calendar.
Make your own holiday when you get back home. Take the wife and kids somewhere special. Whether you make a trip to an amusement park or to the bowling alley and the local pizza parlor, you are capable of making your own holidays.
It’s nice to have something to look forward to.
- Distractions.
Hey, if the holidays are still getting you down, then ignore them. Most of your time is spent inside the truck, and that truck is your universe. Tune out the songs. Don’t hang up lights.
After a long day of driving, keep yourself mentally stimulated with other tasks. Teach yourself a new language or a new set of skills. Learn to build a website. Get good at a new video game.
Whatever it is, you can keep yourself occupied.
- Greet Other Truck Drivers.
On the other hand, sometimes you do need company. At the end of the day, head into the truck stop and start a conversation. You’re probably not the only one who misses home at this time of year.
Truck drivers typically have great stories to tell, and you can share your own stories about family and friends. It’s not like being home, but it keeps your mind on the positive thoughts.
- Understand that Not Everything is Perfect at Home.
Being away from home for the holidays can lead truck drivers to resent work and idealize home. Home becomes more than a place. It becomes an idea.
Then when drivers get home, they find that things aren’t perfect. The baby is still crying, your significant other has their own needs, and the dog still isn’t housebroken.
After you get home, savor the time with your loved ones. Don’t be disappointed if the holidays didn’t spread magic at home. And don’t get into unnecessary arguments or fights.
Enjoy your holiday, whenever you decide to take it.