Traffic Tips

  Photo credit:nigerianpolitics

Despite high fuel prices, we are still spending more time in bumper to bumper traffic than ever before for reasons ranging from bad roads to toll gates and sometimes accidents. This is unfortunate as more often not, traffic delays are preventable.

Well, this can be very stressful, and of course boring; but as the saying goes”things turn out best for those who make the best out of the way things turn to.” This can be a time for reflection, personal development and some fun! Rather than whine about how the cars are moving like snails or delays are witnessed on the roads, these tips could relieve you of traffic stress while you enjoy your journey:

Smile: Smile at your fellow victims of traffic, at your co-travelers/passengers in the car or public bus/cab and at the bus stops. But remember, people are in an irritable state. So be prepared for a low return of smiles and a few looks questioning the reason for your unsolicited smile. For whatever reason, motor vehicles have this way of isolating us from the outside, as though each of us is in our own little world, so break the barriers with a wide toothy grin!
  
Work on your to-do list especially in the early morning traffic- Having a mental note or written note of your day’s plan kills mediocrity and gives a direction. You may do this in the gridlock if you didn’t do it the previous day and you had to leave home early the following day in a bid to beat the same traffic you are held in. 

Exercise! Yes that’s right. The only exercise you have probably done today was walking to your car. Well the Car Workout are:

• Belly Busting- While driving, pretend you are trying to zip closed a tight pair of skinny jeans. Pull your belly button in towards your spine as you try to your lower belly away from the waistband of your pants. Hold here, engaging your abs, or for a more intense workout, breathe out 20 times quickly. As you breathe out, contract lower abs even harder to pulse your abs in and out. 

•  Spine Stretching. While in traffic, hold on to the steering wheel with your hands at 10 and 2 o’clock and around your back. By pulling on the steering wheel and rounding your back, you’re stretching the area in between the shoulder blades and mid-back. Take a breath here and then release.

• Tension Tackling. Tilt your right down towards your right shoulder. Relax your shoulders and breathe into the left side of your neck, stretching the left side of your neck. Hold for 10 seconds then repeat on the other side.

Listen to radio and/or audio books if you are driving or read one if you aren’t.

 Make that call rather than procrastinate that call again to a more “convenient” time. The best part is any point you can pull the “Hey, looks like we’re moving. Talk to you soon” card and get out of an unpleasant conversation.

P.S traffic should be at a standstill at this point, and be sure to use a hands-free device. LASTMA officials can’t wait to get you.

 

 Meditate, plan, assess, evaluate and strategize. Traffic could be your muse, who knows!

 

Congestion and road rage have been the defining and regular features of Lekki/Epe expressway, but beneath the surface, this simply reflects the failure of transport infrastructure to keep pace with economic activities. Traffic is maddening, tiring and engulfing but try to cram as much discomfort as possible into small chunk of time,so that the rest of the day can be a little stressful. 

Written by Joy Towuru