Got road rage?
Here are a few of the top tips for dealing with everything from awful 405 traffic to horrible drivers to make sure you get to your destination without losing your cool.
1. Eliminate the element of surprise: Have you noticed those freeway signs that tell you how much longer until the next freeway or city? Studies show drivers are less stressed if they can predict how long it’s going to take to get to their destination. My tip: download a navigation app with traffic, know how long it’s going to take to get home before you even start your car.
2. Have all your bases covered: What makes a bad commute worse? Underestimating how long it’s going to take and then realizing you need to get to the restroom or that you haven’t eaten in several hours, or feeling a headache knocking on your forehead. Plan ahead, if your commute takes longer than 30 minutes, make sure to use the restroom before you leave. I always keep snacks and a bottle of water in my car, decreasing my chances of getting home cranky. Keep an emergency kit in the glovebox, and make sure it includes some Advil if that headache ever pops up while you’re stuck on the freeway.
3. Pretend everyone who cuts you off is rushing to see their mom in the hospital: I’m not kidding! Empathy is key to keeping calm when dealing with less than ideal road-mates. You may never know why that driver is disrespectful of everyone else on the road, but if you make an excuse for them, it will help you keep your sanity.
4. Turn traffic into tranquility: Chances are, between work and home, you might not get too much time all to yourself. Make the car your zen zone, and enjoy your opportunity to de-stress between destinations. Blast your favorite music and sing along. Clean your car and make it as comfortable a space as possible. Keep conscious of your attempt to try to enjoy this time and you might dread the drive a little less.
5. It’s not that bad: If you’re stressed because you’re late to an appointment, remember that nothing you can do at this point will make things any better, but you could make the situation worse. Let the person waiting for you know you’re running a few minutes late (handsfree of course!) and chill out. We’re in LA, it happens to the best of us, and the beauty of it is that everyone understands. On a scale of 1 to 10 of worse things that can possibly happen, being late for an appointment doesn’t even make it close to the halfway mark, so react accordingly. Now, if you tend to be late to everything, reduce your stress on the road by overestimating your commute time by a few more mintes.
Happy driving!
Rachel
Here are a few of the top tips for dealing with everything from awful 405 traffic to horrible drivers to make sure you get to your destination without losing your cool.
1. Eliminate the element of surprise: Have you noticed those freeway signs that tell you how much longer until the next freeway or city? Studies show drivers are less stressed if they can predict how long it’s going to take to get to their destination. My tip: download a navigation app with traffic, know how long it’s going to take to get home before you even start your car.
2. Have all your bases covered: What makes a bad commute worse? Underestimating how long it’s going to take and then realizing you need to get to the restroom or that you haven’t eaten in several hours, or feeling a headache knocking on your forehead. Plan ahead, if your commute takes longer than 30 minutes, make sure to use the restroom before you leave. I always keep snacks and a bottle of water in my car, decreasing my chances of getting home cranky. Keep an emergency kit in the glovebox, and make sure it includes some Advil if that headache ever pops up while you’re stuck on the freeway.
3. Pretend everyone who cuts you off is rushing to see their mom in the hospital: I’m not kidding! Empathy is key to keeping calm when dealing with less than ideal road-mates. You may never know why that driver is disrespectful of everyone else on the road, but if you make an excuse for them, it will help you keep your sanity.
4. Turn traffic into tranquility: Chances are, between work and home, you might not get too much time all to yourself. Make the car your zen zone, and enjoy your opportunity to de-stress between destinations. Blast your favorite music and sing along. Clean your car and make it as comfortable a space as possible. Keep conscious of your attempt to try to enjoy this time and you might dread the drive a little less.
5. It’s not that bad: If you’re stressed because you’re late to an appointment, remember that nothing you can do at this point will make things any better, but you could make the situation worse. Let the person waiting for you know you’re running a few minutes late (handsfree of course!) and chill out. We’re in LA, it happens to the best of us, and the beauty of it is that everyone understands. On a scale of 1 to 10 of worse things that can possibly happen, being late for an appointment doesn’t even make it close to the halfway mark, so react accordingly. Now, if you tend to be late to everything, reduce your stress on the road by overestimating your commute time by a few more mintes.
Happy driving!
Rachel