The earlier the better: the practice of five minutes early

When you’re running late to the dentist appointment you forgot about or racing the clock to drop the kids off at school, the last thing you’re thinking about is unexpected traffic.

Being stuck in traffic or rush hour when you’re running late is a less-than-ideal situation and can often cause unnecessary stress and

driving anxiety—which can lead to road rage or dangerous driving behaviors like speeding.

To help alleviate some of the stress or anxiety that can come with driving, we’re going to introduce the concept of five minutes early and why it, as a mindful habit, can improve your drive and benefit your life in more ways than one.

Here’s the HiRoad five for five.

The five benefits of five minutes early

1. Beat the rush

One of the more obvious benefits of five minutes early is saving some time for possible traffic on your drive. A 2022 Urban Congestion Trends report showed that during rush hour, travel time is on the rise. Save yourself the potential stress and headache of battling others on the road by leaving the office or local event a little early, even if it’s just a few minutes early, to avoid the worst traffic congestion times.

To keep yourself as prepared as possible for the drive, plan by checking the route on your favorite map app for any accidents or slowdowns.

2. A relaxed way to start the day

“I’m going to be late!”

Driving stressed or anxious can lead to some negative consequences. And when you’re pressed for time, it may not feel like there’s a moment to just stop, breathe and relax. A mindful drive is possible when you prioritize your mental and emotional health before hitting the road.

As you incorporate five minutes early into your day-to-day, you may start to feel less stressed from behind the wheel because you’re not in a rush to get to where you need to be.

3. The unexpected won’t faze you

Unexpected delays like car accidents, bad weather or those random flat tires can happen, making those five minutes early worth it. With a little buffer of time on your side, those unexpected road moments can feel more manageable.

4. Extra time to set it and forget it

Also remember to plan on using a few minutes before you even start driving to set up your GPS route and playlists, let folks know you’ll be unavailable during your drive, and secure your phone in a cradle before your drive. These small efforts to prepare as much as possible before your drive can help reduce distractions and contribute to a more focused drive.

5. An overall safe drive

We mentioned that a rushed drive can contribute to an unsafe one. Think about moments on the road when you’ve been behind schedule or stuck in traffic. Stressed? Anxious? Maybe driving more defensively or fast?

As you implement five minutes early to your drive, you may notice fewer road rage moments, that rushed feeling and that you’re less inclined to speed or drive carelessly.

When’s your best time to drive?

Before your next drive, set a reminder on your phone and plan to leave five minutes early. Try it out. Depending on your location, personal life and driving habits, five minutes early may not work for you. If you notice it takes you longer to get from Point A to Point B, adjust your schedule to allow for more time to drive.

The benefits that can come from leaving five minutes early can help lead to a more mindful drive with less distractions and stress. When you’re practicing safe driving habits and have HiRoad as your insurer, the HiRoad app can recognize those habits to reward you on and off the road. If HiRoad is offered in your state, give us five and we’ll share how.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.