How do taxi and private hire drivers stay healthy?

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UK taxi drivers can face up to 10 hours on the road per day: and with less physical movements comes more health risks. Problems such as lower back and leg pain— or even fatigue— are symptoms of a highly sedentary job. Below, we’ve compiled measures you can take to maintain your health during a work day.

Adding exercise into your lifestyle

Exercise refines your body, improving your (mental) health, body strength, immune system and sleep. These benefits are needed outside your work life as well! Focus on certain muscle groups that are more vulnerable in sedentary work such as the hamstrings, calves and lats.

Some simple exercises whilst inside your taxi

For many getting the time or enthusiasm for exercising can be difficult, but many drivers have times in the car when they may be waiting, why not harvest this time with some in taxi exercises as demonstrated in the car exercise video below. Multiquotetime works in partnership with QuoteZone who provide a simple form for PHV insurance which once completed is submitted to a specialist panel of taxi insurance brokers. This should aid taxi and private hire drivers in comparing polices from providers like Haven taxi insurance, Towergate taxi insurance and Paton's taxi insurance and others

Leg exercises: for your hamstrings and calves

Low-impact exercises are good for starters and drivers looking to move during their breaks. These exercises take less energy, but would still stimulate your legs. To try these out, consider:

Stretching your legs: flexing your ankles, lifting your legs and extending your calves
Walking up and down a flight of stair
Walking down the road.

If you like the idea of sweating a bit more and increasing your heart rate, try these intermediate-level exercises:

Squatting to strengthen your leg muscles, ligaments and tendon
Jogging / running
(Side) lunging.

These movements can be considered challenging, depending on your time / intensity.

Upper body exercises: for your lats and core

Adding strength to your upper body may also improve your posture and improve your spine. However, these exercises may require gym equipment. If you don’t have any, there are alternative exercises, like the following:

Shoulder shrug
(Side) planking.
Tricep dips

If you have access to equipments such as dumbbells and weights, consider lifting them through

The ‘Arnold press'
Front and side lateral raises.
Lifting your dumbbell / weights upright

Please note that reps per each exercise would depend on your ability / capability. If you have any debilitating health problems, please consult a medical professional.

Looking for Taxi or Private hire insurance?

When you think Taxi insurance, do not forget the local family run companies that specialise in taxi and private hire cover. These include Jenkinson's taxi insurance, A19 taxi insurance, Nelson insurance and insurance and not leaving out Bells taxi insurance, all offer a personal touch sadly missing with the bigger household names

Maintaining a healthy diet

What you eat is a good indicator of your health. It’s all about quality and quantity, so planning your plate is important. While doing ‘meal prep’, here are a few things to take into consideration

Nutrients: are you getting sufficient vitamins, proteins and carbs? While making breakfast, lunch or dinner, be mindful that all food groups should be present on your plate.
Finance: is what you eat per day affordable? Does it fit into your budget? Typically, dining out would not only cost more: which is why cooking for yourself is much cheaper.

Here are things to avoid, in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle:

High sugar intake: adding too much sugar into your tea and coffee, or drinking a lot of fizzy drinks, is harmful to your body. Exposing your body to high levels of sugar means exposing your body to the possibility of type 2 diabetes, strokes and other heart-related problems
Eating late at night: your body breaks down food slower at night, meaning weight gain is more likely with this eating habit.

How do I measure my healthiness?

Sometimes it’s hard to put your health in perspective and keep logs tracking your personal growth. However, there are a few apps that can do this for you. Apps available for both Android and IOS like ‘Cronometer’ helps you chart your nutrition and give solicited advice.

Long term benefits

Keeping the discipline for a healthier lifestyle is a big win for drivers. Your rejuvenation would also help you:

Heighten your energy during the day
Improve your sleep
Strengthen your muscles, tendons and ligaments
Improve your immune system and fight off any infections and illnesses you may be exposed to in your line of work

High sugar intake: adding too much sugar into your tea and coffee, or drinking a lot of fizzy drinks, is harmful to your body. Exposing your body to high levels of sugar means exposing your body to the possibility of type 2 diabetes, strokes and other heart-related problems
Eating late at night: your body breaks down food slower at night, meaning weight gain is more likely with this eating habit.