When you are stuck in traffic and not going anywhere, it can increase your anxiety levels. Rather than be frustrated, you can turn that time into being productive so you don’t feel it is lost time. Here are just several ideas of things you can do behind the wheel that are safe and useful.
If you are in holiday traffic with family members, try playing games together. Play at car auctions and see who in your family will buy which of your surrounding cars for what price. For smaller children there are some game suggestions on the Crayola web site. Or make up your own games.
Do simple exercises. Tighten groups of muscles as you sit behind the wheel. It will help move the blood around, exercise the muscles and release tension.
Make a list in your head of all the things you have done during the day or all the things that have gone right. This not only can help organize your thoughts, but it puts your mind in an appreciative and more contented state.
If you have a passenger, this could be a good time to have one of those discussions when privacy is needed.
It’s okay to look at other motorists. Most times when stuck in traffic I see other motorists with the same frustrated, smoky expression I’m wearing. If I make the effort to think of them as people — just like me — and smile at them, or shrug my shoulders to communicate "exasperating isn’t it?" almost every one melts into a nod or smile, too.
If you are at a full stop and will be there for a while — like an accident or construction — and you clearly will not need your attention on the road for a little while, this may be a good time to clean out all those little shelves and drawers in the car. Anything that demands your attention like eating, talking on the phone, cleaning, grooming etc., should only be done if you are at a full stop and will remain that way for the duration. Please do not divide your attention when you are creeping along slowly. This is a great way to plow into the person in front of you!
Listen to music or audio books. Entertain yourself with hands-free devices so your hands will be ready to drive when traffic moves again. This is most important when the traffic is stop and go.
There are lots of ways to fill time in a traffic jam that will be productive and/or make you feel good. You might even spend some of that time making a list of your own ideas for the next time you’re caught in traffic!