ALT-1 How to keep your Cool in a Traffic Jam
Whether we're talking about that rush-hour commute back into the suburbs or a road construction project that has one lane of traffic closed on the Interstate, traffic jams are perhaps the most frustrating situations we can find ourselves in. If you are like most people, you want to get to where you're going without having to wait. Traffic jams can and will leave you hopelessly stuck with nowhere to go until dozens or even hundreds of cars in front of you begin moving again as they were before you found yourself in this mess to begin with. With that established, it is virtually certain that if you can manage to keep your cool in the midst of a traffic jam, you will be able to remain calm in just about any situation.
To begin with, the first thing you must convince yourself of is that there is absolutely nothing you can do to speed up the time it will take for the congestion to resolve itself. Some individuals will pull out and attempt to drive on the shoulder to get ahead of everyone. Suffice to say, those who resort to such action lose popularity quickly. There will also usually be a police officer waiting ahead in the wings to issue a ticket. Make no mistake: The temptation is there, but then just think to yourself: Imagine if everyone tried that! Not only would numerous accidents occur as motorists battled fruitlessly for an opportunity to escape the bumper-to-bumper traffic, but the ensuing chaos would effectively double as well.
Others will constantly merge over to whichever lane is moving faster, but this will always prove to be in vain. No sooner will you manage to switch lanes when the other will provide a brief opening! That minivan full of screaming kids that was behind you is now five car lengths ahead in line. Therefore, it is best to simply remain in the lane you started out in and let the traffic jam run its course.
Once you have determined that there is no way out until you pass the cause of the obstruction, then it's time to decide how you will occupy yourself during this inconvenience. Here are some things you can do to pass the time constructively:
If you are not moving for several minutes at a time, why not call the other party and tell him/her that you are running late? Some places have laws restricting cell phone use while driving, but if you are just sitting there, what could be the harm? If airline pilots can communicate with a tower while flying five miles above the earth at 600 mph, there should be no problem talking on a cell phone while stuck in traffic.
Turn on some music. A favorite radio station, CD, or IPOD selection will take your mind off your current predicament. Just be reasonable with the volume control. You want to avoid being one of those people who have a stereo cranked so loudly that someone three lengths of a football field away can feel the bass vibrating through his/her chest.
Again, if you are not moving, pull out a map if you have one and study alternate routes to take so this won't happen a second time. If you have a GPS, program a backup route.
If it happens to be a sunny day and you have a sunroof, open it up and catch a few rays. This will improve your state of mind and you can acquire a bit of a tan at the same time!
Finally, use this time to collect your thoughts. Make plans and sort out details for upcoming events. If you have to speak to a large group, practice what you'll say. If you have a hot date for next Saturday, mentally go through hypothetical responses to your date's inquiries. If none of the above applies to you, think of what you need at the grocery store. Jot your thoughts down on a piece of paper.
These are just a few things you can do to keep your mind off of the fact that you are stuck in the middle of a traffic jam. The key to remaining calm is to occupy yourself. As mentioned previously, there is nothing you can do until you have a clear path, anyway.
Unanticipated delays are a fact of life and will spring up from time to time. Until our cars are able to sprout wings and fly, that's just the way it is.
