Have you noticed that traffic, no matter where you live, is getting worse? At the same time, our tempers are increasing with the frequency of traffic gridlock.
I couldn't help but notice the Intelligence Report in this weekend's Parade Magazine http://www.parade.com/hot-topics/0808/how-to-fight-traffic. From 1982 to 2003, the total hours spent by Americans in traffic delays increased 529%. Can you imagine what you could accomplish if you could have back all the hours you spend staring at brake lights in front of you?
Why is there so much traffic?
Parade Magazine suggests that with the worldwide population increase, the number of cars on the road is also escalating. No longer does one household own one car. I know of a family with one teenage girl in high school and two other daughters in college. Counting one car for Mom and another for Dad, that's five cars just for one family.
Guess who does the bulk of the driving in the U.S.? Women! With women, according to U.S. Census researchers, with each additional child they have, they have to do that much more driving and taking the kids places. With men, the amount of kids is not such a big issue, Dad drives to work, leaves the car in a parking structure all day. However, with all the women on the road taking the kids from one place to another, the men ultimately feel the same traffic pinch.
Are there any solutions to the maddening flow of traffic? Parade magazine suggests we take it easy on the road. The time we spend aggressively changing lanes switching back and forth is not saving any time in traffic. The rule of thumb seems to be that when the traffic is thick and slow, you have less to gain by changing lanes. You are also more apt to get into a fender bender when changing lanes since other drivers may not see you.
So what do you do to fight traffic without fighting traffic?
The simple solution is for most of us car junkies to start carpooling. It can greatly reduce traffic but most of us are just not willing to do it. We want our private space - the passenger compartment - and we don't want anyone else intruding in our private space. For some of us, driving alone in the car is the only time we get to be by ourselves.
Try to leave earlier or later to skip rush hour. You may be able to change your hours so you can come in at 10:00 am and leave at 6:30 p.m. You may miss some of the traffic this way. Leaving earlier in the morning is not too appealing as some of us need as much sleep as possible to give our best each day.
Stay on top of radio traffic reports for bad delays. Listening to traffic reports is your best bet for learning what delays await. At least you'll have the time to decide alternative routes. For those of us who use the freeways, make it a habit of learning the best side streets to take once you've exited the freeway during an impending traffic tie-up.
Here are some final suggestions on dealing with traffic: take the scenic route if you can. Studies show when drivers are surrounded by a picturesque environment, they are less likely to get upset by traffic.
Listen to books on tape. Stay with the mysteries. You can get so wrapped up in a riveting plot that you won't mind being stuck in traffic. Use air fresheners especially the natural citrus ones. The scent of citrus boosts your mood, while vanilla and lavendar keep you calm. Try singing or praying out loud in your car. Singing out loud changes your breathing pattern, which in turn lowers your stress levels by slowing down your heart rate and soothing the nervous system.
John
Email John: johnsblog@teshmedia.com
For more tips on how to deal with stress from job related anxiety to dealing with your next door neighbor, check out my new book, Intelligence For Your Life: Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth. My book can be purchased at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.
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