“Did I read right?” you ask. Yep, cleaning your car can actually help you lose weight. But I’m not talking about the physical aspect of it, scrubbing away at those layers of grime, dirt and bird poo you accumulated on the paintwork whilst driving around.. Rather it’s about freeing up the mental space in your brain to problem solve and focus on your goals.

Did you know that your car is a reflection of you? If it’s in poor condition, unserviced and full of rubbish or junk then chances are your body is not your temple either. Now you might think that your car is only designed to get you from A to B. But when you drive and spend time in it you’r actually using all of your senses: touch, sight, sound and smell; whether you realise it or not. Whilst most of these are focused on driving (as they should be), a portion of your senses are peripherally focused. So they’re spending time (and energy) on the other things around you.

A strange kind of logic therefore has it that if you remove these ‘other’ things, things that don’t need to be there (like rubbish or a dirty windscreen) or things you shouldn’t need to worry about (like that gurgling sound coming from somewhere under the bonnet), then this frees your mind up to focus on more important things, like problem solving in order to reach your goals, including the weight loss goals you have.

If it all seems like too much of a chose then implement the 10 minute rule – agree to spend the next 10 minutes on cleaning up and out your car. Chances are once you get going you’ll continue for much more than 10 minutes. And once you start to experience a safer, cleaner and more enjoyable car, you’ll probably want to keep on going.

So clean out your car and get it running in tip top condition. You’ll not only have a more engaged driving experience, but you’ll be more safer on the road and have more ‘head space’ to focus on the things that really count.

Safety First – What You Should Have in Your Car

Just inc ase you’re wondering what’s OK to leave in your car here’s a pretty exhaustive list. And, yes, for local city driving you can skip many of these items. However if you have an older less reliable car, or if you’re doing a long road trip or traveling around the country packing these items are an absolute must. The trick is to have as much as you need without carrying so much that the extra bulk (and weight) reduces your fuel economy. So select wisely!

1. Your car owner’s manual should be in your glove compartment. It provides lots of useful information that can get you back on the road quickly, or contact numbers for roadside assistance.
2. An old cellular phone, powered off, with a fully charged battery can be useful in case of emergency as you’ll be able to dial 000.
3. A blanket can be useful in case of spontaneous picnic events or if you get stuck in your car and you have to sleep for a night or two unexpectedly.
4. A battery-powered radio (and extra batteries) if travelling in bad conditions (snow, flood, fire).
5. Bottled water but on an appropriate long term storage container that doesn’t leach harmful chemicals.
6. High energy snacks or protein bars in case your blood sugar drops or you get stuck somewhere without any ability to get a meal.
7. Road directory and maps – don’t completely rely on a GPS navigation system.
8. Jumper cables in case of a flat battery.
9. A first aid kit (and manual) is vital in case of an accident or injury.
10. Tire repair kit which makes it possible for you to patch up a flat tire to drive for a short period.
11. Tire air gauge for preventive maintenance and to improve fuel efficiency.
12. Road flares or reflective signs so that others can see you if you need to change a tire at night.
13. Flashlight and extra batteries.
14. A can of WD-40 which can help loosen any bolts that you can’t undo.
15. Car fire extinguisher can stop something from turning into a disaster.
16. Portable battery charger.
17. A change of clothes – you never know when you’re going to need them!
18. A towels for all sorts of reasons from cleaning up, drying up to being useful in all sorts of situations.
19. A roll of duct tape can be useful to temporarily repair air filters, mufflers and other items to keep you on the road.
20. A pair of sharp scissors to cut all sorts of things.
21. A carpet remnant is great for lining the bottom of the boot and doubles as a great wedge to get you out of mud, snow, or ice if you become stuck.
22. A small amount of cash in large coins and small notes can come in handy if you run out of cash without a nearby ATM.
23. If travelling through snowy or icy conditions carrying some road salt (in winter) can rescue you if you’re stuck in ice.
24. An umbrella for those rainy moments (especially if you’re in Melbourne).