A normal day of an average city dweller consists of work, communication with loved ones, household chores, and traffic jams. The transition to remote work couldn’t eliminate getting into traffic jams. Citizens are still stuck in traffic jams, taking children to school or going shopping. There is no need to talk about trips to the countryside; traffic jams on the way to the suburbs are commonplace.
As a result, precious minutes and even hours of life are spent on the road. Is it possible to spend this time with benefits? Here are several interesting solutions.
To begin with, the analysts decided to find out how relevant the topic of traffic jams is. For 31%, the problem with traffic jams is a daily story. And only 17% don’t have such a problem at all.
Opinions on waiting time were divided in an interesting way. 36% of people ose 10-15 minutes in traffic jams. 33% of respondents spend from 20 minutes to half an hour in traffic jams. 15% of respondents lose 40-60 useful minutes a day due to traffic jams. And another 15% spend over 1 hour standing in traffic jams.
Look for Alternatives
How to turn this unpleasant situation to your advantage? Almost 70% of people listen to music or radio. Some simply enjoy the views from the window (22%). Many respondents try to avoid getting into a traffic jam. For example, 65% leave home in advance for this purpose. 34% know where the roads are busiest and choose alternative options. And 9% have switched to public transportation because of traffic jams. If you aren’t ready to participate in daily “downtime” on the road, look for affordable alternatives to avoid traffic jams. Perhaps getting out of bed early or staying late at work will be less stressful for you.
Take Care of Yourself
Few of us tend to take care of ourselves ahead of time in traffic. Take your favorite snack (sandwich, cut vegetables or fruit, dried meat, nuts, or chocolate), as well as a bottle of water or other beverage. Think of something else that can keep you in a good mood, like funny games you’ve read about at blog.vave.com or a chat with your relatives. Perhaps it’s something simple: comfy clothes, a soft scarf, a finger fitness machine, or a pack of cookies. Take this “source of endorphins” with you on the road and take advantage of it. After all, our mood is in our hands. So why not take care of it in advance?
Listen to Audiobooks and Podcasts
For those who have accepted traffic jams but haven’t come to terms with them, we suggest making the most of the benefits and enjoyment. Let’s start with the benefits. Spend precious minutes on your own development. Maybe you have long wanted to learn a foreign language? Then turn on the audio course and dive into the new information with interest. Surely there are several other useful audiobooks or courses that have been waiting for their time.
Sing and Play
When things get heated and nerves are on edge, singing can be great to switch things up. The body releases hormones of joy, and the problems no longer seem so significant. You can sing to radio tracks, a selection of playlist or record a special phonogram for this purpose. If vocal data is not your strong point, and there are passengers in the car, you can relieve the tension by playing. Look for examples of “road” games on the Internet or invent your own: in words, cities, or associations. Remember that good mood and excitement come during the game, so overcome your skepticism and allow yourself to relax a little in traffic. Your nervous system will thank you.
Do Some Cleaning
When the congestion is serious and the cars are almost not moving, you can start cleaning up the interior of the car. You probably don’t always have enough time for this. Disassemble the glove compartment and side door pockets, get rid of debris, wipe dust and dirt with special wipes. Just don’t forget to activate the parking brake or put the gear knob in park mode. Passion for cleanliness should not be the cause of an accident.
Do Some Exercises
A little exercise never hurts anyone. In a traffic jam, you can stretch your neck and shoulders, rotate the joints of the arms and alternately tense and relax the muscles of the back, and do facial exercises. Such a short complex will help cheer you up and distract you. Massage of the head and jaw area will ease stress and feel better. Simple eye exercises will relieve overstrain and help relax the face. Getting into the habit of self-massage is a good option for shifting your focus to relaxation and enjoyment. We recommend practicing it!
