Best Alternatives to your Car Radio

 
If you drive your car on any kind of regular basis, you’ve likely gotten sick of the songs that routinely pop up on the radio.
 
While switching up stations is a short-term solution, you should be aware that there are several better methods of keeping yourself entertained on your commute.  Here are the top alternatives to radio:
 
Spotify
 
Instead of relying on someone else to pick your music for you, you can make the decision yourself by downloading Spotify to your mobile device.
 
Spotify is a music streaming service that allows you to listen to some of your favorite artists and genres from all over the world. While it may not have everything you’re looking for, there’s a good bet that the majority of your favorite music can be found with a simple search.
 
Spotify is free, but if you want to avoid commercials on your commute, you can pay for the ad-free version for a monthly fee of $9.99.
 
If Spotify isn’t for you, there are a number of other music stream services available that you may find more enjoyable.
 
Podcasts
 
If you get sick of listening to music, you may want to try out a podcast or two.
 
No matter how obscure your hobbies and interests are, there’s likely a number of podcasts available for you to download and listen to. A simple google search will yield some of the best existing podcasts on a particular subject.
 
There are several apps available that will allow you to listen and download to the podcast of your choice. Alternatively, you may be able to download directly from the podcast owner’s site, and sync your phone to your computer to import the file.  One of our favourite podcast apps is Podcast Republic.
 
Audio Books
If you consider yourself an avid reader, but have trouble finding the time to actually read, you may find it easier to listen to a book while you drive.
 
Audio books are typically much cheaper than physical books, and can be a pleasant alternative to reading yourself. There are plenty of apps for streaming audiobooks, so take a gander through your phone’s play store to find the right one for you.  A great resource for audio books is Audible.
 
Silence
 
Sometimes the best music is no music.
 
If you find it hard to concentrate in the morning with something blaring in the background, there’s nothing wrong with just driving in silence.  Going through some proper breathing exercises on your commute can not only help to reduce stress and anxiety, but it can also have a positive effect on your day ahead.
 
If you find yourself in an overwhelmed state when you arrive at work in the morning, you likely aren’t taking the time to properly organize your day. During your drive, think of all the tasks and meetings you’d like to accomplish and figure out when and how you’ll get them done.
 
First and foremost – make sure to stay focussed on the road ahead, and don’t let your mind drift unsafely.