I have never been one of those people who love driving and finds long drives relaxing. Nope! Not me at all. All four years of college I went to a university over three hours away from home. I have definitely had my fair share of driving.

Now that I’m graduated, I still haven’t quite escaped the long driving thing. Although it’s not three hours I still do commute to work every day. Thankfully my office is only about thirty minutes from my house, but add Houston traffic into that mix and we tack on an extra fifteen minutes. So not fun.

I have found a few ways to make commuting suck less. Whether you’re going to work, or even school these tips should help you feel a bit happier during your drive!

Listen to a podcast. There’s so many on iTunes and Spotify you can download straight to your phone. I love Sophia Amoruso’s Girl Boss radio podcast on Spotify!

Listen to calming music. There’s so many great playlists on Spotify! Turn it on in the background and try to relax on your otherwise hectic commute.

Use Waze. This app is a life, and time saver! It will direct you to the quickest route, which will sometimes make your commute shorter!

Related: 20 Self-Care Activities To Implement

Bring a snack. This could totally be a Jamie thing, but something about having pretzels or candy to snack on during my way to work makes me happier.

Download a brand new album and jam out. Find a brand new album you have never listened to, and spend your commute listening to all new songs.

Be productive. Something about wasting thirty minutes in the car really bugs me. I tend to use this time to make a to-do list, or start mentally planning out blog posts.

Carpool if you can. Driving alone can be super boring, especially if it’s a long drive. Grab a friend who works nearby and plan a schedule! This would be a great way to save on gas too!

Spray fresh scents. Keep your car clean, and smelling nice! Sitting in a dirty car on a long drive will make you feel antsy. If you like essentials oils, check out this car oil diffuser!