Rush hour is without a doubt the most stressful time to be on the road.
Whether you’re heading into the office or checking out after a long
day. The last thing you want is to be stuck in stop-and-go traffic.
Driving anxiety is at an all time high during peak travel hours. The increased
volume of vehicles on the road coupled with nerve-racked drivers cutting
you off and disobeying traffic laws is absurd. Just thinking about it
fuels your road rage. And as tempting as it might be to fight back, you
know it will only make matters worse.
What should you do instead?
Since it’s unlikely that rush hour will ever go away and teleporting
is not an available mode of travel. Finding ways to de-stress during heavily
trafficked commutes is going to be your best option. Consider the following
ways to make your daily rush hour battle a little more tolerable:
1. Unplug and recharge
Take advantage of your opportunity to unplug from the world and take a
breather. Your notifications will still be there and you might actually
enjoy getting a moment to yourself.
Please note:
It’s illegal to text and drive in the state of Indiana (even more of a reason to unplug and take a break!).
2. Give yourself enough time
There’s too much pressure when you’re constantly racing the
clock. Set realistic expectations for how long your commute will take
and plan accordingly.
3. Don’t overpromise
If you know that 6 o’clock dinner plans are unattainable, don’t
push yourself to make it. This goes hand-in-hand with setting realistic
expectations. You don’t have to be the one who’s always late if you
give yourself enough time.
4. Listen to music, find a new podcast or download an audiobook
Create a new playlist with songs that make you happy. Download a podcast,
they’re addicting and can take up a good amount of time. If you
like to read but don’t have time to do it, find an audiobook to
download. They can take weeks to finish and are often read by the author.
5. Remember you’re not alone
Most people don’t enjoy being stuck in traffic, take solace in the
fact that you’re not suffering alone.
6. Don’t give into road rage
You have no control over other drivers’ actions. If someone is tailing
you, let them pass and keep your distance. Slamming on your breaks or
speeding up so they can’t switch lanes may gratify your want for
revenge. But it’s only going to amplify the situation which could
lead to greater trouble.
7. Practice deep
breathing
This might sound cliché, but it checks out. Deep breaths in and
deep breaths out, try it.
8. Make your vehicle a comfortable place to hangout
With the amount of time you spend in your car, do what you can to make
the best of it. Keep it clean; try not to let trash pile up. Throw old
drinks, receipts and other waste out when you stop for gas. Stockpile
your plastic grocery bags to use for car trash (there’s bound to
be somewhere you can hang it).
