If you are unlucky enough to have to brave the N1 or William Nicol on a daily basis, you know how draining it can be to be stuck in traffic. Instead of giving in to road rage, why not try these ideas to spend that time more productively.
1. Call a friend
Sending the occasional Facebook message or an sms is a nice way to stay in touch, but nothing beats a real call to a person to whom you haven’t spoken for a while. If you have a hands-free kit or bluetooth in your car, you can make that call that you never have time for – it is sure to bring a smile to your face.
2. Catch up on your reading
Don’t have time to read that bestseller? More and more people are buying audiobooks – they’re fun to listen to and equally enjoyable without requiring your undivided attention. You will find many popular titles from categories such as fiction, self-help and non-fiction.
3. Visualise
Psychologists and life coaches emphasize the importance of visualisation to achieve your goals. Visualise things you really want to achieve as though you have already achieved them. Want to live in Paris for a year? Start visualising the buildings, the street signs, the ambience and the food. The subconscious mind cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined; it processes the images you visualise as though they have already occurred, which will leave you energised and will enable you to achieve your goals.
4. Learn a new language
Choose your language and buy or borrow an audio language pack. While others are cursing behind the wheel, you can just smile and say “Bonjour, je suis magnifique” – as you drive by.
5. Download and listen to podcasts
During drive time and peak hour traffic, the radio can be a form of noise pollution. Download your favourite podcasts from famous authors and well known personalities and listen to something you actually like. Choose from a wide variety of topics on iTunes or podcasts.
6. Control your appetite
Commuting can be a very passive time. You could eat a whole bag of crisps and not know when or how that happened. If you must engage in passive eating, we recommend you eat an apple. Not only will it provide you with your daily fibre requirements but it’s been proven that eating an apple 50 minutes before dinner, suppresses the appetite. Consequently, your drive time apple could help you regulate your dinner portions and keep you in shape.
7. Spring cleaning
If you’re completely idle, you could embark on a 5 minute wallet declutter. Empty out receipts that have been accumulating in your wallet for months.
8. Sing out loud
Pick a song you love, shut your windows and press play. Get into it, really feel the song and hit those high notes. Fellow commuters driving by, may find this entertaining to watch but do you really care? This is therapy 101!
9. Shape up
This is the perfect time to work out those your gluteus maximus (yup, those are your butt cheeks). Whilst seated, slowly clench those cheeks until you feel your body raise about an inch or so. Then hold for about 5 seconds. Release and repeat. It’s as simple as that. At no cost, with zero equipment and no loss of time, you could be working out!
10. Feel grateful
Successful people express their gratitude in journals, or by simple reflection. On your daily drive you could devote time to feeling grateful about your day and your life in general. Had a bad day? Try to isolate its one positive aspect that got you through a day. You’ll be surprised how many things there are to be grateful for.
With these 10 tips you can turn your wasted time into productive time to do all those little things you’d normally put off. Happy driving!
Speak to one of our brokers today to get expert advice on your motor and household insurance. Visit www.indwerisk.co.za or call 0860 13 13 14.