It’s something most of us do every day. With the pace of today’s world, we need to drive. Whether we want to or not.

But I bet you’ve probably never thought about driving healthy, have you? Do you pay attention to your posture? How close/far are you from the pedals? How well is your back being supported? Here’s a quick list of some tips to improve your days while you’re in the car. I’ll start out with the proper setup:

1. The height of the seat should be started at the lowest position, and then raised until you have a fully comfortable and unobstructed view of the road.

2. The seat should be moved forward so that you can fully depress both pedals, comfortably of course.

3. Avoid pressure behind the knees, and try to have the thighs fully supported by the seat cushion.

4. Adjust the lumbar support so that your entire back is equally supported. The support should not cause an unnatural curve in your back…it should simply “fit” your back.

5. Adjust the steering wheel so that it is as far backwards (toward you) and downwards (toward your legs) as is comfortable and safe. Be sure that the wheel clears your thighs and that you can fully see the display panel.

6. The headrest should be behind your head in order to support it in the case of an accident.

Once you’re all set up with the proper seat position, you’re ready to drive. But even while you’re driving, you can find ways to improve your health. Here’s a couple of ideas…

  • At red lights, lightly press your head against the headrest and hold for 3 seconds. Repeat this until the light turns green. This will act as exercise for your neck muscles and actually help your posture!
  • If your car doesn’t have a lumbar support feature, you may try rolling up a small towel and placing it behind your back while driving. The proper lumber support will help relieve stress from your back, and keep you healthy.
  • While driving, do your best to keep you shoulders in the “back-and-down” position. Pull your shoulders down and backwards to the point of comfort. This will relieve stress from your neck and shoulders.
  • And finally (and maybe the most difficult), try not to let that idiot who cuts you off…tick you off. Relax out there…your body will thank you for it.