Mindful Driving Makes for a Better Memory (and it's environmentally friendly too): Awareness is Easy - if you're willing to make the time and stay on task.

Ever wonder where the time has gone?  For most of us, life whizzes by because we're thinking of one thing while doing another.

Ever wonder how you got two roadways past your exit?  That's because we whizzed by our exit while our mind was on what we were going to say to our client when we called - or what we didn't say this morning to our friend - or our brain is mentally jumping like a grasshopper from chore to unfinished chore, worrying about our over-busy schedule.

Monkey mind, as the meditation gurus call it.  Chatter, chatter, chatter.  A wandering mind.  A busy mind.  An A.D.D. mind.  An over-multi-tasking mind.  WHOAH!!!!!

Take a deep breath.  It's time to quiet down and be mindful.

Being mindful means being aware of what you're doing at this very moment.   It's keeping all your senses in allignment -- on the present moment. 

Driving Mindfully: 

Set your intention.  When you're driving, before you head out, think of your destination and the route to get there.  And leave early enough to give yourself a driving time cushion to feel comfortable -unhurried - not rushed (This allows your finer self to come out and eliminates any potential road rage, plus giving you a more alert, relaxing, enjoyable experience.) 

Once you're on your way, look at where you're going, listen to the sounds of the traffic, feel the steering wheel under your hands, smell the heat or the air conditioning or the fresh air from the open window.  

And definitely think about HOW you are driving.

Are you driving safely?  Paying attention to the road?  Seat belt clicked?  Within the speed limit?

Is your driving environmentally friendly? Hypermiling is a word that's new to me.  It's a good one to add to your vocabulary.   

• It's about modifying your driving to improve mileage and reduce emissions.  
• It's about getting good gas mileage because you're slowing down as soon as you see the light turning red. 
• It's about replacing air in your tires - on-time car tune-ups - driving gently, not aggressively. 
• It also helps you keep your mind on the cars around you, which makes for safer, more alert driving.  
• And lets you remember where you are going and where to turn off.

And don't forget, once you turn off the motor, to ask yourself, "Where Are My Keys?" and "Where is my car parked?"

Let's hear from you.  Do you ever forget to turn off at your destination because your mind is wandering?  What do you do to drive mindfully?

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your driving mindfully stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com featuring tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong.

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?  Blog on and share your driving mindfully stories.

Blog on with your comments.  And forward this blog to as many friends and associates as you wish.  Hopefully they'll become Memory Tipsters as well. 

(Copyright - Judy Marcus - 2009)**********************************************************************************************************

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint any items from the Memory Improvement Tips Blog.  However, please credit Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, as a source, with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from the "Judy Marcus - Memory Lady - Memory Improvement Tips Blog",www.memory-improvement-tipster.com featuring tips and strategies to take control of your memory and keep your brain strong.