How to ‘Enjoy the Ride’ - What to do before hitting the road

Kicking off 2026 is a little blog series I wanted to drop for you lot, inspired by the blogs motto of course! Enjoy the ride is my cringey yet honest sign off on the posts and something I feel very strongly about. It’s one of those things that everyone might have a different perspective on, where one person may enjoy a faster paced drive, some want to slow down and take in the scenery. Regardless of your view, this series is here to guide you on making the most out of the drive.

So without further ado, let’s get into the first post and go over the pre-checks before you get out on the road.

Before you jump into your car and race off into the sunset there’s a few things to go over first to ensure a safe and fun drive out. It may sound a bit of a kill joy but safety on the road is massive, and although you can’t control what others do, some quick and simple checks on your car can make a world of difference. A quick check over of your fluids, brakes and tyres can save you an embarrassing breakdown whilst out on the road but not only that, it gives you that confidence that everything is in good shape and ready to roll.

It doesn’t just stop on the outside though, checking over your interior for rubbish and loose items can avoid a costly distraction when doing some spirited driving. Plus a tidy interior means a tidy mind, so keep that in mind for your next drive out.

This next one is only something I’ve recently started to take note of myself, so no shame if it’s something that has skipped your mind till now. Before your next drive, take a moment to double check on you. Yeah that’s right, you. Sometimes a drive out to clear your mind is the best way to find calm, peace and get a clear headspace on whatever is going on in your life. But it’s important to realise how different mindsets can drastically change your driving behaviour. If you’re angry because your boss was on your back at work, you’ll find yourself speeding more and probably taking chances you wouldn’t usually go for.

I don’t want to sound like some spiritual yoga know it all but before you get behind the wheel, just take a deep breath and think about how you feel in the moment. If you are angry about something, I’m not saying you should lock your keys away and sit in instead. But maybe just cruise to a scenic view and chill and enjoy the sunset. Calm your mind rather than hype it up with a fast paced sprint across some B-road.

Like I said before, it may seem a bit of a kill joy, but for the sake of 15 minutes, you can save yourself a lot of stress, financial cost and potentially even losing your car. The younger me would have benefitted from this post as I fell for the trap with a poorly maintained car and ended up with 3 points on my licence and sky high insurance costs. So read it twice and share it far! Look after your car and it will look after you. The same goes for your mindset too. With those bits covered, get out there and make the most of the roads around you, take the turns you’ve never taken and find those hidden gems.

But most importantly, enjoy the ride.

E.