QUEZON City, Philippines (October 22) – Being stuck in traffic is like a a punishment. It’s painful. There are lots of time wasted doing nothing and to wait for the car to move and get to where you must be is definitely no fun at all!
It is said that you have never experienced traffic unless you experience it here in the Philippines.
Posted on the website of CNN Philippines, Dr. Gladys Mendoza, an internist at The Medical City, said getting stuck in traffic “produces a lot of your stress hormones.”
“It increases your heart rate, it increases your blood pressure,” said Mendoza. “And we know that if it increases your blood pressure for a long time, you develop heart disease… eventually you develop heart attack.” Stressful traffic makes people impatient and hot-headed. That’s why it’s important to free yourself from the frustration and anxiety caused by traffic jams.
Here are a few things you can do while sitting stagnant inside a vehicle:
- Always have healthy snacks near you. Mendoza said a few bites of “nutritious food like nuts, oats, biscuits, non-fat (food)” while in traffic are helpful.
- Listening to relaxing music, audio books or podcasts and singing out songs is a great way to distract you from the horrendous road jams.
- Talking to someone is an effective distressing method. Dial home and talk to a family member. Call a friend. Ask them how their day was. Just make sure you’re on hands-free mode!
- Yes, you read it right. There are easy exercises you can do that will help ease the tension and lower your stress levels.
In our generation today, we are very used to a lifestyle wherein everything moves so fast. Whatever we do is always in a fast-paced approach that most of the times lead us to being irritated when something comes very slow.
In outoftownblog.com, there 5 enjoyable which you can do when stuck in traffic:
- Watch your favorite TV shows and movies on iFlix
Okay. So you’re stuck in traffic, and you know that it’s probably going to take at least 30 minutes before you get to the next stop. Don’t get impatient. Don’t go all snobby on your fellow passengers. Instead, spend it watching your favorite movie! Spend that 30 minutes entertaining yourself, rather than stressing over the traffic!
- Record your own Dubsmash
You can make your own ridiculous but hilarious, dubbed video-clips, too. Of course, this is most advisable when you’re in your own vehicle, with no one else is around to see your shameful state. But, if you think you can do it inside a public utility vehicle, then, why not? At least you’re making someone else laugh!
- Create a SnapChat video
Aside from being stressful, getting stuck in traffic is also boring. What can you do to kill boredom? Shoot a funny video and share it to your friends. Don’t worry about looking too ridiculous; SnapChat videos disappear after they’re played (thus ‘snap’)… that’s unless someone cleverly takes a screen shot of your funny moment to laugh at you for the rest of the week. That’s an entirely different matter.
- Listen to music in Spinnr
Soothe your ears with pleasing melody, or release your stress through the drums and electric guitars. Spinnr offers a vast array of songs to choose from, and, if you’re in the mood, you can also dance along to the funky tunes.
- Try Skype Qik
You think sending SMS to your friends and loved ones is enough to rid yourself of that stress and boredom traffic causes? Well, think again. Skype Qik is a new mobile messenger that allows its users to send messages to friends and loved ones in the form of short videos.
There is a multitude of ways to spend your time while getting unfortunately stuck in traffic. Just be creative! What matters is that you start your day right, without ruining other peoples’ day as well.
Who doesn’t hate it when we get stuck in traffic? No one likes that of course! So, I hope that these tips will surely help a lot for you especially when there’s traffic and there’s no way you can escape the moment.
(written by Joana Joyce Tan Marcaida, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)