Most road trip fatigue doesn't come from being tired — it comes from staring at the same stretch of highway for hours with nothing to break up the monotony. Studies on driver alertness point to a dip that tends to hit around the third hour behind the wheel, right when the scenery stops changing and the caffeine from your morning coffee starts wearing off. Here are five things worth keeping in the glovebox before your next long drive.
1. NozBom Thai Herbal Inhaler
A quick, menthol-forward inhale is a fast way to reset your senses without pulling off at the next exit for another coffee. NozBom is a dry herbal blend of menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, peppermint, borneol and clove in a jar-style format — hold it a short distance below your nose and inhale. Nothing needs to be inserted into the nostrils, and there's no oil to spill in the cupholder. Shop NozBom.
2. Cold Brew or an Electrolyte Drink
Dehydration makes fatigue worse, and it sneaks up on you faster in a climate-controlled car than you'd expect. Keep a cold brew or an electrolyte drink in the cooler for the stretches between rest stops.
3. A Playlist or Podcast Queued Up Before You Leave
Cell service gets patchy outside of towns, and fumbling with a phone at 70 mph is its own hazard. Download what you want to listen to before you go so you're not stuck re-searching for a signal an hour into nowhere.
4. A Window-Mount Phone Holder
Keeping your phone mounted and visible means less time glancing down at directions in your lap, which matters more the longer you've been driving and the more your attention starts to drift.
5. A Cooler With Real Snacks
Gas station food is usually the only option once hunger hits, and a sugar crash an hour later doesn't help your alertness. Pack something with actual protein in it before you leave.
Safety note
NozBom is for external aromatic use only. Do not ingest or insert into the nostrils. If you're prone to migraines or sensitive to strong scents, try it before a long drive rather than for the first time on the road.
