Last updated: Wednesday, November 7, 2007 | 9 Views
“You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by; but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.”
- James Matthew Barrie
Given the mobilized nature of society these days, traffic jams are nearly unescapable. We’ve all been stuck at ZERO mph when the sign clearly states that we’re allowed to go 65. It’s frustrating to no end, and it fills us with hate for our traffic-filled way of life.
Besides, we’ve all found ourselves especially stuck while having a deadline fast approaching — that 9am start time at work, a meeting, an interview. As progress becomes slower and slower, your anxiety becomes more and more intense, leaving you with a knotted brain before work has even started. It’s a bad situation that too many people deal with daily. To alleviate this stress, try these smart approaches both before and during the commute.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
We often have little time to think before racing out the door. But it is this very hastiness that turns into frustration when you first see the brake lights go on in front of you. By preparing yourself mentally ahead of time, you can start to alleviate your traffic jam grimace before you even get in the car. Consider these pointers:
1. Listen to traffic reports.
This should be a part of every car driver’s morning. When you check the reports, you not only learn what to expect, but you can factor delays into your commute time accordingly, since stations often give delay times.2. Leave early.
This thought usually arrives about half an hour too late — when you’re actually stuck in traffic. For once, take the time to beat the rush. Lay your clothes out the night before, go to bed early, get up early, and miss the heart of rush hour. It will make your morning easier to deal with.3. Have an alternate route.
The smart driver will have clever ways of circumventing the fray. It may even be worthwhile to take a “long-cut” — a route that takes a few minutes longer — if it saves you the mental strain of sitting in gridlock. Just don’t drive over any soccer fields or residential lawns.
THINGS TO DO IN A TRAFFIC JAM
If you’re well prepared, you will even have some occupations planned for yourself to break up the monotony of stopped motion. Here are some of best traffic jam activities:
4. Do some brainwork.
What we usually to while driving is fall into routines that defy departure. For example, if you always have the radio blaring, you might never allow yourself time to think. If this is the case, change your driving routine and create a better thinking environment for yourself. You may even do some quality problem-solving. Run over upcoming projects in your mind and write down your ideas when you reach your destination.5. Play a game.
Playing games always works better when you have passengers. If you’re alone, however, I don’t encourage breaking out “free cell” on the laptop during the commute, but why not count how many people in other cars are picking their noses. Come on, it’s going to be fun.6. Stretch.
Most people don’t think about the body below their belt when driving slowly. That is, until they get of the car with a leg cramp and a sleeping foot. Occasionally, and with utmost caution, put the car in park when you’re at a dead stop, and lift your right thigh off the seat. Move both legs wherever they will go without getting stuck. Also, do arm stretches.7. Listen to audio books.
If you’ve never tried it, you might find yourself enjoying and loving it. Popular novels are usually the most popular audio books, and for good reason — there’s nothing like a little Tom Clancy in the morning. On the more practical side of things, you can try learning a language, or listening to some personal development audio book.8. Catch up on phone calls.
I strongly discourage the use of cell phones while driving in general. But when you are in stop-and-go traffic, never going above 10 mph, and not changing lanes, phone calls are admissible. Get news from family or friends, or check your messages at the office so you are prepared for what awaits you. Always use your headset.9. Listen to the radio.
Tune into your beloved radio station. This may be obvious to some, but others never think to turn it on, or to stop the CD shuffle for once. Alternating between all-talk and all-music stations can help prevent boredom. Also, having a favorite morning DJ is like having an old friend in the passenger seat; well, almost. For a wider variety of stations, you may want to opt for satellite radio.10. Have a snack.
Indulge in anything from an apple to a sandwich. You can have breakfast if you’re driving to work in the morning; just avoid anything messy.11. Car pool.
Solitary boredom is one of the main contributing factors to traffic stress. Just having someone to talk to can make the time fly by. Plus, you’ll be saving the environment the extra fumes, and fellow drivers the extra space. Just be sure your car-pool buddy isn’t someone you hate — or worse, a backseat driver — as this will aggravate you even more.12. Sing.
It may sound crazy, but you’ve probably already done it (it’s funny what a little extra coffee can do to us). Clear your throat and get those pipes going. Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good… I knew that I would… You’d be surprised how good it’ll make you feel, even though those in the cars next to you will think you’re chemically imbalanced.13. Acquiesce.
If you know you’ll be stuck in traffic — and usually you should know, if you’re going to travel during rush hour or through construction — prepare mentally. Integral to the stress of being stuck is coming to terms with the fact that you’ll be late. But if you accept this fact beforehand, or are prepared for it, you won’t be surprised when you’re stopped dead in the middle of Route 99. And then you won’t be white-knuckling it all the way to the office.
I’m sure there’s no way to make you actually like being stuck in traffic. Traffic jams are among the most loathsome obstacles in our daily routines. But cutting down on stress at this point can be a relief.
If you confront the beast, and try to be productive in its midst, you might find your mornings at work a bit more relaxed, and your winding-down time more pleasurable. Who knows — you might even start to enjoy the ride.
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Also when you are in a traffic jam you can try to speak (play) witch the children( if these are with you) or try to take a little sleep.
Otherwise , interesting post.
A driver is stuck in a traffic jam on the motorway. Nothing is moving.
Suddenly a man knocks on the window. The driver rolls down his window and asks, ‘What’s going on?’
‘Terrorists have kidnapped George Bush. They’re asking for a $300 million ransom, otherwise they’re going to douse him with petrol and set him on fire. We’re going from car to car, taking up a collection.’
The driver asks, ‘How much is everyone giving, on average?’ …’About a galon.’
I’ll empty my tank and push.
Ririan I could not agree with you more. Thank you for the reminder.
If you want to reduce your contribution to traffic jams, the first thing you should do is take care of your car. Making sure your car is properly maintained can help prevent breakdowns on the road. Maintenance includes regular oil changes, tune ups and tire care. Keeping your car in good working order will save you time and money and might help keep you out of dangerous situations.
[...] 13 Smart Ways to Make a Traffic Jam Work for You - Czy ktoś z Was spróbował kiedyś policzyć, ile czasu zajmuje Wam dojazd do pracy, z pracy, na zakupy, itd…? Jak wykorzystujecie ten czas? Jeśli poruszacie się własnymi samochodami, to pewnie słuchacie radio. Zwolennicy komunikacji zbiorowej być może czytają książki/gazety. Jednak skoro nasz czas jest tak cenny, to dlaczego godzimy się na marnowanie czasu spędzonego w korkach? [...]
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