Longer commutes and rising gas prices are adding stress to
getting to work or just getting weekly errands done. Don't
let traffic stress you out. Here are eight ways to
de-stress your commute.
1. Leave earlier in the morning. Don't make yourself a
victim of rush hour jams. Strive to arrive an hour or even
two hours early, at least one or a few days a week. Use
this time to take an energizing walk, and then start work a
few minutes early to organize your day's priorities.
2. Leave work later. Postpone your departure time to avoid
the usual rush hour snarl, even if just for one or two days
a week. Take a course at a nearby community college, or
spend an hour at the local library. Plan an after-work
get-together with friends once a week to take a break from
sitting in traffic.
3. Whittle down your gas bill. Alleviate some of the
financial stress that comes with paying higher gas prices
by making sure your car is tuned up. Keep tires inflated to
the recommended pressure, because under-inflated tires use
up more fuel. Replace clogged air filters. Also save gas by
lightening up the load in your car trunk.
4. Relax. When you find yourself in unavoidable traffic
jams, breathe deeply, in and out for several seconds or
even several minutes to calm and focus your attention on
the road. Stress is contagious, so don't become an
instigator or a victim of road rage on today's already
stress-congested highways.
5. Learn. Keep a book-on-tape or book-on-CD to entertain or
teach you while you are sitting in traffic. Public
libraries have huge selections of histories, motivational
recordings, language lessons, business tips, biographies
and other topics.
6. Don't talk on your cell phone. Cell phones are becoming
an increasing cause of traffic accidents, which is why many
cities are banning cell phone talk on the road. Don't do
it. In an emergency, pull over and off the highway and come
to a complete stop before you make a call.
7. Accept the inevitable. Sometimes unexpected traffic
tie-ups can make you late. It's a common denominator among
today's commuters, so keep that in mind before you worry
that your boss or acquaintance won't understand. Besides,
accelerating and braking too much in traffic also uses more
fuel. Be accepting (and safe!) instead of stressed.
8. Consider mass transit. Instead of dreading getting
behind the wheel, you'll look forward to letting someone
else do the driving while you read or plan your day's
schedule on paper. Besides, a healthy walk to the bus stop
is one more way to make exercise part of your day!
----------------------------------------------------
Ruth Klein, America's De-Stress Diva™, is owner of
the award-winning firm The Marketing/Time Source. With a
master's degree in clinical psychology, Klein, is the
author of the best-selling Time Management Secrets for
Working Women and five other books on business and
lifestyle topics. Sign up to receive Ruth's 7 Part
Mini-Course on Branding and Productivity.
http://tinyurl.com/25tqo5
No comments:
Post a Comment