5 Ways to Beat Traffic Jam Irritation

If there is one thing worse than driving in peak hour traffic, it has to be this – being stuck in a peak hour traffic jam. Traffic has always been associated with road accidents but in recent years, it is being implicated as a cause of stress and pollutants that can lead to diseases such as heart problems, cancer and respiratory disorders. If you are in a car crash, a Surrey ICBC claims lawyer can help you get compensation but no one except yourself can do anything about dealing with irritation and stress while stuck in traffic. Here are a few ideas on how to deal with this stressful situation.

Connect with People rnUse the free time you have to connect with people – not by texting or calling them on your cellphone, because that is against the law – but by striking up a conversation. If you are traveling with someone, this is very easy to do by reminiscing over past experiences or sharing a joke. If you are unlucky enough to be stuck in traffic alone, roll down your window and say hi and exchange pleasantries with someone who is similarly stuck.

Listen to Something UsefulrnUse the time you have to listen to some music you enjoy on the radio. If someone in another car is playing some music you like, roll your window down and listen. If a traffic jam is a daily reality for you, invest in some inspirational CD audio books and carry them in your car. Although you may listen to these play even when driving, you find yourself able to pay greater attention when stuck in traffic because your mind is not divided between driving and listening.

Pray a BitrnConsidering how often we crib about not having enough time, a traffic jam is a godsend. So, use it to send up some thanks and offer gratitude for all the good things you are blessed with. Now, this will take up quite a bit of time because you need to think up a list of the gifts you have. While at it, you can also channelize your mental energy to pray that the traffic clears up quickly.

Play GamesrnUse the time on hand to make up games of your own to while away time. Try to guess the song the radio station will play next, observe how the show host speaks and anticipate his or her responses to people who phone in. Look at the number plates of other vehicles stuck in traffic and try to come up with a mathematical formula to match the numbers you see, or make words or funny sentences to match the alphabets in the plate.

Make ListsrnCarry a scribbling pad in your car and if you are stuck with nowhere to go in traffic, jot down a list of all things you need to do. Whether it is your jobs at work or at home, goals for the week or the month or an entire lifetime, use the free time you have to brainstorm and come up with a list of really important things you need to do.

As any Surrey ICBC claims lawyer will surely agree, most incidents of aggressive driving on the road arise from stress. For most people who drive, traffic jams are an unpleasant reality and yet, we get stuck in the same rut of irritation and frustration and all this pent-up emotion is of no good. Rather, use this time constructively and you will soon begin to look forward to it as a time to treasure and relax.