We spend a lot of time in the car. From dropping off and picking up the kids at school to driving to and from work every day to yearly family road trips, you likely rack up plenty of hours behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, the car isn’t made for comfort, which means all that time spent in the car can wreak havoc on your back, neck, and more.
You deserve to be comfortable, no matter how long you spend in your vehicle every day! Take your comfort into your own hands by making these minor tweaks to your car, truck, or SUV.
Contents
Pillow for Your Headrest
Your headrest probably isn’t something you think a lot about, but it can greatly affect your comfort for the better with a few simple tweaks.
First, you have to think about your safety. The space between your head and the headrest should be no greater than four inches. This reduces your risk of experiencing whiplash should you find yourself in an accident.
Headrest pillows can be very helpful too. Instead of padding the actual headrest, it pads the space between the back of the seat and the headrest, giving your neck a place to rest without compromising your ability to keep your eyes on the road.
Seat Cushion
Car seats are fairly comfortable when you first get in. However, if you spend a lot of time sitting in that seat, you’ll probably find that it isn’t very comfortable after all.
A seat cover isn’t likely to do anything. Buy a seat cushion instead. They are placed directly on top of your car’s existing seat, without providing you with too much bulk.
Memory foam is a popular option, but drivers who try gel often rave about its comfort and superior support. You can also find cushions with lumbar support if you have trouble with your lower back.
That’s not all! Heated cushions can relax tired muscles, as can massaging seat cushions. If you tend to get uncomfortably hot behind the wheel, you can use a cooling seat cushion.
Adjust Your Seat
Simple additions to the car can help keep you comfortable, but your posture is extremely important too. What feels comfortable when you first get in the car can make you feel tired and sore in the long run.
It’s important to adjust your seat to promote good posture. A few tips include:
- Legs should be slightly bent when pushing on the gas or brake.
- The seat should be raised until your hips are level with your knees.
- The backrest should be reclined to a 100 degree angle.
Making sure you’re comfortable in your seat also means adjusting rear view mirrors and keeping things you need, like sunglasses, close-at-hand.
Heated Steering Wheel Cover
Caring for your posture is important, and cushions and headrests can have a positive, long-term affect on your overall comfortable levels, but temperature is an important consideration in the car too. If you live in a cold weather climate, you know warming up your car can help, but keeping your hands warm is a struggle, even if your car has warmed up. A heated steering wheel cover can help.
Heated steering wheel covers warm up quickly, so you can keep your hands warm even if the rest of your car hasn’t quite warmed up yet. You can also find covers that can be plugged into your car’s power source, so you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries.
Throw Blankets
When you think about comfort in your home, you wouldn’t go without throw blankets when you’re snuggling up on the couch. Why not bring a throw blanket into the car!
One of the coldest spots in the car is the floor, and a blanket can keep your legs and your lap warm. There are tons of throw blanket choices out there that will keep you cozy in the car. Bring an extra blanket and your passenger will thank you!
Just be careful if you use the blanket while you’re driving. Make sure the blanket only covers your lap to your knees, as you need to keep your legs and your feet free to push the gas and brake pedals.
You aren’t doomed to feel uncomfortable every time you sit down in the car. You can be just as comfortable as you are when you’re sitting on the couch in your living room when you give one or more of the tips on this list a try.
