7 Things to do whilst sitting in a traffic Jam

An exotic traffic jam in Calcutta, India

Traffic Jams are a fact of modern life. Everyone spends more time in congested traffic, than we would like. Yet, unless we have our own private helicopter, chances are we will continue to endure the almost daily grind of spending time in traffic jams. The problem is that traffic jams have little going for them; we just waste time sitting in the confines of our car. Almost inevitably, sitting in long queues of traffic brings to the fore feelings of boredom, restlessness, frustration and even anger. Yet, should we allow an unavoidable traffic jam to spoil our peace of mind? Here are some things we can do to help pass the time, without becoming depressed and frustrated.

1. Look on the Bright side of Life.

True, this journey from Leeds to London may take 2 hours longer; but, at least it’s not going to take 3 days like it did in the 1700s.

I may be wasting time, but, at least I’m not wasting time and getting wet, like the cyclist over there. (If you are the cyclist; at least you can dodge through the traffic and cycle on the pavement. Also, you are less likely to be unfit and obese like all those miserable drivers)

2. Smile at other Drivers.

Have you ever noticed that in a traffic jam, all the other drivers look miserable? Try smiling at other drivers. If you can make others smile, maybe you will brighten up their day. Smiling can even give you an incentive to be happy.

3. Relax

Don’t put yourself under pressure. If your going to be late, there’s nothing you can do about it. Being anxious about the time lost will just make yourself miserable. Try to enjoy the moment, wherever you are. If you are tense and want to relax, just spend some time being aware of your breathing; this can help you to relax.