Being mindful whilst driving

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kathyjoyce
Posts: 3
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
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Tue Oct 13, 2015 3:58 pm  

Driving is an activity that's mostly done on autopilot after you've been driving for a long time. Many times I've missed my turning, or driven passed my exit on the motorway. Try and become aware of every action involved when driving, such as putting your foot down on the clutch to change gear,or moving the gear stick. If you drive an automatic just be aware things like using the indicators, holding the steering wheel, or even the sensation of the car moving on the road. It can be hard if not impossible to stop other thoughts entering your mind, but try and view them like a bystander.

MiM
Posts: 122
Practice Mindfulness Since: 0- 5-2015

Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:00 pm  

kathyjoyce wrote:Driving is an activity that's mostly done on autopilot after you've been driving for a long time. Many times I've missed my turning, or driven passed my exit on the motorway. Try and become aware of every action involved when driving, such as putting your foot down on the clutch to change gear,or moving the gear stick. If you drive an automatic just be aware things like using the indicators, holding the steering wheel, or even the sensation of the car moving on the road. It can be hard if not impossible to stop other thoughts entering your mind, but try and view them like a bystander.


I have tried that once or twice. It is really difficult, kind of like being in driving school again, but I guess that was what we all had to do before we learned to autopilot those motions.

However, at least I don't feel like a particularly safe driver while doing that, because it takes a lot of attention that really should be on the traffic. So please be very careful if you try it.
Stands at the sea, wonders at wondering: I a universe of atoms, an atom in the universe.
-Richard Feynman-

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