Surviving the morning commute

You may have been taking advantage of some working from home time during the warmer months, or you are preparing for the school run again now the summer holidays are coming to an end. With that in mind, we have put together a collection of tips and helpful advice for surviving the back to school traffic and daily commute; giving you everything you need to start the day off with confidence and positivity.

Prepare the night before

Organisation is key for things going smoothly in the mornings, so make sure you get everything ready the night before. Get your lunch ready and prepare the kids lunchboxes if you need to. It’s good to lay out what you plan to wear for the next day too. You could even go as far as putting your mug with the coffee granules next to the kettle ready for the morning rush. Get everything ready that you need for work and school next to the front door so you don’t forget anything. You could even plan your route if you needed to.

Leave yourself plenty of time

Chances are when the schools reopen, those empty roads we get used to during the summer will be a thing of the past. We recommend you give yourself plenty of time to get to work. Aim to leave the house 10 minutes earlier than you usually need to that way you can learn what the traffic is like and what time is realistic for you to arrive on time.

Fill up early

Plan ahead and ensure your car or van has plenty of fuel the night before. There’s nothing worse than getting in the car and realising you’re close to empty. It’s only going to add time to your commute and is something extra to think about. Particularly with the fuel prices continually fluctuating, planning ahead may get you a better rate. Take a look at our fuel saving tips to keep your usage down.

Keep your car clean and looked after

Not only will a clean and reliable car make you feel better, it will also give you peace of mind. It’s best to do everything you can to make sure your car is in gworking order, such as checking tyres, lights, or even booking your car in for a service.

It’s not just you

Last of all, it will be many people’s first day heading back to work and facing the school run again. So remember you’re not alone if you’re feeling overwhelmed about getting out on the road again. There’s no harm smiling at the person sat in traffic next to you or playing music a little louder than normal if that helps rid those comm worries.

If you're on the look out for your next used car to prepare you for the daily commute, take a look at our used cars and book an appointment at our Exeter Customer Hub.