Getting stuck in traffic can be a real pain.
Not only does it eat up time and energy, but it also encroaches on your day.
But another interesting downside to this problem is that it can be really boring.
Occupying yourself while stuck in traffic isn’t always easy.
And sometimes, people dip into partaking in unsafe activities while being parked in traffic, just to avoid feeling so bored.
To a point, this is understandable—but it’s not safe, either.
JT Legal Group says it like this:
“Do you know that more than six million car accidents happen each year in the United States?”
So in this post, we’re going to discuss five safe ways to keep yourself occupied while stuck in traffic. These activities won’t put you or anyone else at risk—but they can also help to stave off boredom, and might even make your day better.
Let’s jump into it.
1. Listen To The Radio
Listening to the radio is an obvious way to keep yourself occupied without endangering anyone else.
While you’re listening to the radio, you can still keep your eyes on the road.
You can still keep your hands on the wheel, and you can still keep your attention focused on the safety of your travels.
But you can also listen to music, enjoy some talk radio, catch the news, or just enjoy whatever happens to be on.
This is super simple, easy, and can be a great way to stave off boredom.
2. Learn New Things Through Audiobooks
Downloading some audio books and listening to them through your car’s stereo is a fantastic way to not only learn new things, but to also keep from being bored out of your mind while being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.
You could add an entire new skillset to your repertoire by doing this on a consistent basis.
This could even lead to getting a promotion or a raise at work if you learn the right skills.
This is a fantastic way to kill boredom while being stuck in traffic.
3. Make A Hands-Free Phone Call
Do you have some phone calls you need to make?
Consider making them all while stuck in traffic, as opposed to waiting until you get home.
Of course, if the phone call is going to require you to access your computer or take notes, you may want to save it for later.
But if you’re catching up on calls to family, checking in on acquaintances, catching up with old friends, etc. these are great things to do while you’re stuck in traffic because it’ll still allow you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Just make the call through your car’s hands-free calling mechanism.
4. Have A Conversation With Yourself
Sometimes, when you’re stuck in traffic, the tendency will be to seek out distractions from outside sources.
But this can sometimes cause us to forget that we can also be a source of our own fun and entertainment.
You can pair this with a bit of self help philosophy by engaging in some self talk.
Have you been going through some tough things lately?
Have you been stressed out or frustrated with your life lately?
If so, you can ask yourself why—and then dig deep into the answers by literally giving yourself a small therapy session right there in traffic.
This doesn’t require anything but for you to be aware, and to be capable of thinking through your own life situations.
5. Reflect On Your Day/Meditate
Reflecting on your day and just processing everything that went on while you were conducting the affairs of your life on this particular day can be a fantastic way to break up the monotony of trying to get home and being stuck and trapped in traffic.
We all need some reflection time.
We all need a bit of time for meditation.
It helps all of us to be self-aware.
So try to keep from neglecting this important part of your own self-care by performing this action while you’re stuck in traffic.
It can help you to kill two birds with one stone while also making your life better at the same time.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has given you all the tips you need to help you keep yourself occupied in a productive manner while being stuck in traffic.
Hey, being stuck in traffic is never fun.
But if you utilize these tips, you should be able to get it done without putting yourself at risk.
You’ve got this. Stay safe out there, and make it happen.