Q: Avoid dressing in tight, restrictive clothing since you'll be sitting for a long time. Choose light, loose fabrics that allow you to move easily. Layer your clothes so you can stay warm or cool during your drive. If you start driving in the morning when it's cool, you might want a fleece jacket. You can remove it later when you warm up or drive to a hotter destination. Load an MP3 player with a variety of your favorite music or pack plenty of CDs. Enjoying music is a great way to pass the time during a long drive. If you don't like listening to music in the car, find an audiobook or podcast to enjoy. Keep easy-to-eat snacks in the passenger seat so you can eat something when you feel hungry. Snacking on something healthy is also a good way to stay awake since it will help you focus on something. Avoid snacking on salty foods, which can dehydrate you. Good snack options include: Granola bars Unsalted nuts Rice cakes Fresh fruit and vegetables Crackers Water is one of the best drinks for a long car ride, but you could also bring coffee, tea, caffeinated drinks, or juice. Avoid drinks with a lot of added sugar, such as energy drinks, which could make you jittery. If you'd like the drinks to stay cool, put them into a small cooler and place it near the bottom of the passenger seat so it's easy to get to. If you're in a hurry to get to your destination, glancing at the clock every few minutes will only make you more stressed. Make a point of not looking at the clock. Instead, relax and try to enjoy the drive. Instead of focusing on how much longer you have in the car, think about how many miles you've put behind you.
A: Wear comfortable clothes so you feel relaxed. Listen to your favorite music. Pack healthy snacks to munch on. Bring refreshing beverages to drink so you stay hydrated. Don't look at the clock to track how far you've driven.

Q: This can take some of the sting out of the rejection. You don't need to give them an elaborate thank you. A single sentence is enough to convey that you're appreciative of the thought. Say, "Thanks for complimenting my dress," or "That's a really nice offer." You don't have to thank them if they're making you feel uncomfortable. You don't want to send them the message that their behavior is okay. It may be tempting to be vague about how you feel in order to spare their feelings, but this will be worse in the long-run. In addition to leading them on, you'll likely find yourself having to reject them again in the future. You might say, "I don't see you that way," or "That's not something I'm interested in." You don't owe anyone an apology for feeling the way you do. Additionally, saying you're sorry makes it seem like you're pitying them, which can hurt their feelings more. Instead of saying, "I'm sorry, I'm not interested," just say, "I'm not interested in dinner, but I really appreciate the offer." If someone you're already friends with has developed feelings for you, it's difficult to let go of that friendship. Sometimes you genuinely want to be friends with someone you're not interested in dating. However, maintaining a friendship can be cruel to them. Let them decide what's best for their life, just as you get to decide what's best for you. You might say, "I hope we can still be friends, but I understand if you need your space." It's best to avoid giving someone excuses, but they can be useful if the person is someone you just met. However, using an excuse opens you up to getting caught in a lie. If you're going to use an excuse, choose one that doesn't leave room for arguing, and exit the conversation as soon as you give it. For example, you might give an excuse if a stranger asks you out in public, as it provides an easy way out. However, if you have mutual friends in common with the person, giving them an excuse might come back to bite you if they talk to your friends. It's usually better to be direct. Typical excuses include, "I'm not ready to date anyone right now," "I'm seeing someone," "I'm just too busy right now," or "I just got out of a relationship."
A: Tell them you appreciate their offer or attention. Give them an honest and clear rejection. Avoid apologizing for turning them down. Don't try to force them to be friends with you. Save excuses for when you're rejecting a stranger.

Q: The small muscles at the base of your skull right above where your neck meets your head are your occipital muscles. Tightness here is responsible for a lot of pain and tension, and sometimes headaches and dizziness. The best way to relieve these muscles is with ball massage. Use a tennis ball, racquetball, small foam roller, or anything with a similar shape. Lie flat on your back face up and place the ball under your neck right at the base of your skull on either side of your spine. Turn your head side to side to roll over different areas. Do this for about 5 minutes, and be sure to massage both sides. Stand up straight. Tilt your chin to your chest. Interlace your fingers and place them behind your head. Do NOT pull downward on your head, but allow the weight of your arms to apply gentle downward pressure on your head and stretch the back of your neck. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times or more. Stand or sit up straight. Keeping your nose facing straight ahead, bring your right ear to your right shoulder. Rest your right hand on the side of your head and allow the weight of your arm to gently pull, stretching the left side of your neck. Again, do not actively pull on your head just let the weight of your arm apply gentle traction. If your shoulders slump forward, bend your left elbow and place your left arm behind your back with your palm facing outward (when your head is tilting to the right). Do this for 30 seconds on each side, repeating 3 times. Your sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is that strong, thin muscle that stretches from right behind your ear down to about the middle of your throat (it connects to the end of your collarbone close to your midline), creating the little V-shaped divot at the front of your throat. You should be able to feel this strong band of muscle. Find it and gently massage it by pinching and rolling it lightly between your fingers. Go up and down the length of the muscle. Don't push too deep into your neck where you might hit other tender places. The massaging motion is like gently pulling or lifting the SCM away from other structures in your neck. It might help you find and relax the muscle by turning your head in the opposite direction, i.e. turn your head to the left with your nose staying straight ahead to feel your right SCM. Walk into an open doorway. Place your right arm against the right side of the door with your palm facing the door. Bend your elbow so that it is in a 90 angle, with your forearm flush with the side of the door. Take a small step forward with your right foot. Keep your forearm touching the door. You should feel a stretch in your pectoral muscles at the front of your chest near your armpit. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds and repeat on the opposite side. Chiropractors and massage therapists are experts at understanding how posture problems cause pain, and how to fix them. See a massage therapist or have a chiropractic session and ask about stretches and exercises you can do at home.
A:
Relieve your occipital muscles with a massage ball. Regularly stretch the back of your neck. Stretch the sides of your neck. Release the SCM muscle at the front of your neck. Stretch your chest muscles. Speak to a professional body-worker for advice.