Driving is one of those activities that can be incredibly pleasant and fun. When the road is wide open and a person can cruise along in the Nissan Rogue in San Jose without a care in the world, life is good.
However, there are moments that can be challenging, and this usually happens when a person encounters traffic. This can make a drive incredibly stressful. The starting and stopping can also be damaging to the car, resulting in it needing Nissan maintenance in San Jose.
While a person has no control over the traffic, they do have control over themselves. Finding ways to reduce the stress and stay calm is imperative. Below are a few ways to accomplish that task.
1. Plan Ahead
If possible, a person needs to plan ahead and anticipate that they will run into traffic. This means that getting up and getting ready and out the door with more than enough time to get to work (or whatever destination they are headed to) can be helpful. It will also give them time to get their mind in a relaxed state before they even get behind the wheel.
Planning ahead can be accomplished at the beginning and end of the day. If a person has a fairly flexible work schedule, they may ask their boss if they can come in early and leave early. That way, they can avoid the whole rush hour issue all together.
2. Take Deep Breaths
Even with planning, a person may find themselves stuck in traffic. If this happens, they should remind themselves that they have no control over other people and take some deep breaths. They should inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. On average, it is recommended that people take ten deep breaths to calm their mind.
This is certainly a good practice for people to participate in, and they may also consider counting as they take their breaths. This means inhaling for a count of three, holding it for a count of three, then exhaling for a count of four. Being focused on the breathing may help them take their mind off the fact that they are stuck in traffic.
3. Recognize and Let Go of Anger
When having to deal with traffic, it’s natural that this can lead to frustration and anger. It can be irritating when another driver cuts a person off, and it may make the person feel like they need to retaliate. This is when road rage kicks in, and this can be incredibly dangerous.
When a person feels angry about what happened while in traffic, they need to recognize and accept that the situation made them angry. Then, they need to take a few deep breaths and realize that retaliation or holding on to the anger won’t resolve the situation. It’s okay to be angry, but then let the feeling go.
Once again, taking deep breaths can help with this situation, as can thinking about something that makes a person happy. This could include something funny that they watched or witnessed or thinking about something fun that they get to do later in the day. No matter what, it’s important to recognize that the action was irritating but then not dwell on it and let it ruin the entire day.
4. Listen to Music
When a person gets stressed out, such as being in traffic, then their mind has a tendency to keep focusing on that stress. Instead of freaking out about the traffic that is outside the car, turn on some music and get lost in the melodies.
It may be a good idea to have some tunes that make a person feel good that they can sing along to. This will keep them focused on the lyrics and the beat instead of the traffic jam outside. Make a playlist with favorite songs and turn it up to get through the stress of the commute.
5. Listen to a Book
Like listening to music, listening to a book while stuck in traffic could be a good way for a person to get their mind off the situation and the stress. If they are engrossed in a story, they may forget that they are surrounded by other cars and be transported to another world.
Since the popularity of audiobooks has been growing recently, finding something that a person will enjoy shouldn’t be too difficult. The audiobook can even be downloaded onto a phone or other music player so the person won’t have to mess with CDs when listening to a book.
6. Use the Time to Meditate
Meditation is a great way to relieve stress and a way for a person to get in touch with themselves. Since there’s not much a person can do when stuck in traffic, they may as well take the time to meditate.
This can be accomplished by downloading a variety of different apps so a person has some guided meditation or if they have experience with the exercise, they can do it on their own. No matter which method they choose, meditation is a great way to stay calm in stressful situations.
7. Practice Yoga
Again, a person is stuck in the car and they aren’t going anywhere, so they might as well do something constructive with their time. This could be a good chance to practice some yoga.
Thankfully, there are a variety of different stretches and exercises a person can do while sitting in their car that doesn’t involve needing a mat or standing up. Find some online to participate in, then exercise while stuck in traffic. This could be a great distraction and a way to relieve tension brought about by stress.
8. Make the Most of the Time
A person can’t do much when they are stuck in traffic, but if they have a voice recorder, they can use it to plan their day, record their thoughts, and maybe even write a novel. When they have access to a computer, they can type their recorded words up.
Being stuck in traffic isn’t a lot of fun, but there’s not much a person can do about the situation. Instead of getting angry or upset, it’s best to find some ways to relieve the stress.
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
- Why the 2025 Nissan Murano Is the Perfect Midsize SUV for Bay Area Living
- Why the 2025 California Gas Tax Increase Makes the Nissan Ariya and Leaf the Smartest Choices for Santa Clara Drivers
- Expert Nissan Service at Stevens Creek Nissan: Drive with Confidence
- Genuine Nissan Parts at Stevens Creek Nissan: Precision You Can Count On
- 5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Vehicle with Simple Maintenance