Some of us get stuck in traffic for hours every day, while others face the dreaded bumper to bumper boredom once a week or so. But no matter what you do, the traffic will get to you. Here’s how to entertain yourself during traffic.
Whether you try to leave at a specific time in the morning or leave work early in the afternoons, there’s going to come a time when you have to sit in traffic. The reality of living in South Africa is that you will, without a doubt, get stuck in traffic. Perhaps an accident caused it, a robot might be out or it’s just part of the 9 to 5 rush, there’s no way of avoiding it, but there is a way to make it a little bit more enjoyable.
Before we get into it, remember to always keep your eyes on the road and ensure you are never distracted – your safety matters!
Read this: How to Warm Up Your Car This Winter: 6 Tips
Things to Do When You’re Stuck in Traffic
1. Make the ultimate traffic playlist
Make yourself a ‘stuck in traffic music playlist’ to make traffic a little more bearable. You’ll be surprised as to how much music can help boost your mood and make the time go by a little quicker. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to sing along too!
This is also a great time to try and learn all the words to a particular song. You know, one of those ‘kinda mumble that part’ songs? Well, this is your time to shine! Play it again and again and set yourself to the task of learning all of the lyrics.
2. Listen to a podcast or an audio book
So, maybe you’re not much of a reader, but trust us when we say BOOKS ARE AMAZING! In any case, a great way to get cracking on a book you have always wanted to read is to listen to the audio version of it.
You can download an app for your phone and hook this up to the sound system in your car. A great app is Audible. They have a great range of audiobooks to listen to and they only charge a monthly fee for your purchase of the app.
Interesting podcasts are also a great way to learn about new things and listen to interesting people chat about the world and their ideologies – if you have an account on Apple Music or Spotify, you can listen to pretty much any podcast on these platforms.
3. Stretch (only when your car is not moving)
But wait, you can’t stretch while you’re sitting in traffic, can you? Oh yes, you can! You first need to start with your sitting posture. Sit up as straight as possible, with your chin in line with your shoulders.
Keep your core tight and hold this for 30 seconds as you slowly inhale and exhale. Repeat this a couple of times. The next is a bit of a backstretch. Holding your steering wheel, round your spine forward and hold for 10 seconds. Release and repeat.
Discover: Do Men Drive Better Than Women? The Answer May Surprise You!
4. Get your to-do list in order
Who says voice memos can’t take your notes for you? While you’re sitting there, fire up your voice memo app and record the list of things you need to do. It can be the chores in your home, notes for work or personal errands you need to run.
Make it a little more exciting and treat it as a diary entry. Talk about places you want to visit, things you want to do, things you saw that day. You’ll be amazed at how this ‘thinking out loud’ can help to clear your mind.
Or who knows, maybe there is a book you have always been wanting to write? Why not ‘write’ it out loud using your voice memo app on your phone?
5. When you’re really bored
Now, this is only for those desperate cases of boredom, but here are some more things you can do:
- Count all the cars you see around you of a specific colour
- Talk to the driver next to you (they might not be very open to this)
- Count how many cars of a specific manufacturer you can see around you
Don’t forget about car insurance
The last thing you want is to be stuck in traffic for hours on end and then get in a bumper bashing as a result of your impatience. Not to mention your hijacking risk is higher when sitting in traffic. When accidents happen (and they do) make sure you are covered with Oneplan Car and Household Insurance that lets you tailor your insurance according to your budget and cover needs.
Read next: On the Scene: What to Do After a Car Accident
The best part is that you can press pause on your cover whenever you want and access our team of experts through our Oneplan App. Our smart app gives you instant access to your policy and your cover details. Get a no-strings-attached quote right now.
Your Insurance Family,
Oneplan
