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Step 1
Begin your day the night before. A full night's rest can help you reduce the chance that you will make your commute through tired, bleary eyes that are still fighting to remain closed. Some bad experiences on the way to work, those caused by a fatigue-induced short fuse, can be alleviated simply by better management of your sleep cycle.
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Step 2
Update yourself through media as much as possible. Check road conditions for construction or accidents before you leave the house. Have traffic alerts sent to you via cell phone or listen to traffic updates on a local radio station. Doing so will help you avoid problem areas where sitting in a "parking lot" on the freeway can lead to unnecessary stress.
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Step 3
Drive as much as you can in the far right lane. The left lane may be for more swiftly moving traffic, but when traffic's at a stand still, is that going to matter? Positioning yourself in the right lane takes you out of harms way – more accidents occur in the left lane because of faster drivers trying to rush through – and allows for you to drop out easily via an exit if things get really hairy.
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Step 4
Chat your boss up about starting the workday earlier, but also knocking off sooner so that you can skip rush hour both ways. Even if you beat it by 20 minutes, or so, it will reduce stress on a commute because you know what you just missed.
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Step 5
Trade up. If you have to be in the car, think about giving yourself the option of a few more options. Luxury automobiles are not only stocked with amenities, but also even stuck in traffic, they separate you, more adequately, from the tumultuous world outside.
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Step 6
Hop on the bus or train. Mass transit isn't just for people who can't afford a car; it's for people who like to have their commute scheduled and more reliable. Studies have shown that you can reduce stress on a commute by letting someone else handle the driving.
