Your watch says it is 7:45 a.m. The client meeting in your office space in Cebu begins in 15 minutes. In fact, it’s easy for you to get there on time considering that it’s just a short drive away, but you have one major problem – TRAFFIC. Sad thing is that you are trapped in this bumper-to-bumper scenario. If you have experienced this, you are not alone. Thousands of employees in major cities in the Philippines have been through this horror story.
Though you can’t do anything about the traffic, there are ways you can make it early to the office. What you need is to break bad habits and be creative.
Here are some things you can do to beat the hellish commute to work:
If you can leave 30 minutes earlier, do it
If your ride to work takes 45 minutes, and you leave very close to that time, you’ll be feeling unnecessary stress over the paranoia of getting to your destination late. It may be a challenge at first, but when you notice how less stressed you will feel when you get to the office you’ll definitely get the hang of it. Try leaving home 30 minutes earlier. You’ll thank yourself for it.
Take Public Transport
Even if you are going to spend a little bit more time lining up for the bus and shell out a little bit more cash for fare, the benefits may outweigh the cons. In fact, ruling out the MRT and LRT in Manila, research discovered that riding public transportation may be less stressful than driving your car.
Besides lowering stress, if your ride is not packed like sardines, you may be able to do a lot of things while waiting to get to your destination. While away your time by reading a book or listening to music. You may also look out the window and let thoughts run through your mind.
Listen to Your Favourite Tunes
Everyone has his or her own taste when it comes to music. For me, I love listening to extremely heavy death metal while commuting to work. For some, they may find solace in listening to their favourite radio jocks talking about life issues on the radio. Maybe for you, it’s all about EDM or 90’s Hip-Hop.
Pack your phone with your favourite tunes and let the music take your mind away from the traffic.
Chow Down on Some Snacks
The rush hour traffic jam becomes more irritating if you’re famished and thirsty. Some commuters bring chocolate bars and bottles of mineral water with them to quench the hunger pangs of a long ride. Others prefer to stop by at a convenience store or coffee shop to kill time and eat before heading home.
Stop Staring at Your Phone
With most of us working in front of computers for the rest of our shift, spending time on social media while you commute home may just add more stress on your eyes. As I mentioned earlier, it is much better if you use your phone as your music player. Also, go non-digital. Try bringing along a crossword puzzle, a book, or a comic for your commute.
The daily commute may cause lots of mental and physical stress. Make sure to follow the tips above to help you make through the work week while keeping your sanity intact.
