My new job, while amazing beyond words, requires a 50-minute rush hour commute twice a day. I'm normally a rather civilized person, but there's something about bumper-to-bumper traffic that taps in to my inner beast. It's just so...dreary. To help combat this dreariness, I've thought up a list of things that I think might alleviate traffic-associated stress.
#1
Some happy jams.
Here is my playlist of mood lifting tunes:
1. Bend and Not Break by Dashboard Confessional
2. Chariot by Gavin DeGraw
3. Spinning by Jack's Mannequin
4. Dirt of Your Shoulders by Jay-Z
5. Float On by Modest Mouse
6. You'll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins
7. Bojangles by Pitbull
8. Show Me Everything You've Got by The Rocket Summer
9. This is Not an Exit by Saves the Day
10. Ruthless by Something Corporate
11. Spice Up Your Life by The Spice Girls
12. Island in the Sun by Weezer
13. Switch by Will Smith
#2
Delicious food.
With me, everything is better when food is involved. Getting home doesn't feel as urgent when you're already having a little snack. I think plump green grapes would perfectly fit the bill here. Promise to be careful when you eat while driving, though!
#3
A good imagination.
Whenever I get angry with the elderly driver in front of me who seems to have no earthly idea what is going on around him, I imagine that he is my grandpa or a friend of my grandpa. Almost immediately, my anger dissipates. When other drivers are veering in and out of lanes with nary a turn signal or seem to think their lives depend on not letting a single other car in front of them, I try to imagine all the times when my own driving acts may have looked selfish and irresponsible to others. Sometimes we just don't focus enough or we make silly mistakes when we're driving. If I can frame the situation well in my head, then my anger and impatience are more under my control.
#4
As much comfort as you can muster.
At my new company, the dress is pretty formal. When I'm sitting in my not-too-spacious car for an hour at the end of the day, the last thing I want is to feel constricted. I make an effort to make small adjustments to improve my comfort, like taking off my cardigan or untucking my blouse. The only person in the car is me and, at 5 o'clock on a week day, looking posh is the last thing on my mind.
Well, that's all I've thought of so far, but if any of you rush hour veterans have any tips for me, I'd certainly appreciate reading them!
*image from weheartit.com
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I've found that Florence and the Machine is excellent stuck-in-traffic music. Or you could maybe try books on tape?
ReplyDeleteCute! Traffic ia crazy in phoenix!
ReplyDeletegood driving tips. i try the grandma/grandpa thing also but it's so hard sometimes!!!
ReplyDeleteHe he, ok so you know my commute so this is what I came up with on the commute home:
ReplyDelete#1. I have XM and feel special to be upgraded to the land of NO commercials, also they have traffic stations, updates and comic stations. Love it.
#2. Therapy shopping, this ia a MUST when you tune into your local traffic program to find out that the 101 is no longer a freeway but a parking lot.
#3. I make lists on the way home in my head of what I want and should be doing, or have "silent arguments" with people in my life.
#4. Sometimes I'll have an energy bar on the way home to hold me over, this was espically true when I worked out after work.
#5. My favorite, since I have a Jetsons car, when people call me, I push a botton and can have lenghthy conversations that make the minutes just disappear like tonight.
Most of the time, I blast the music and sing and people smile and I feel good. Also.. sometimes for me its better to take Scottsdale road to McKellipos and then jump on the 101, I think where you work your closer to the 101.. I feel for you, because you can't do my trick of the beloved "Indian Reservation".. oh and you could always CAR-POOL but make sure its iwth someone that you could burb in front of and not talk about work on the way home.
Love ya!