How to Manage Stress in a Traffic Jam

Knowing how to manage stress in a traffic jam was critical to staying sane when I lived in California and made the daily 120-mile round trip from Walnut to Calabasas in the San Fernando Valley. These tips can help manage traffic jam stress whether you are stopped by non-routine issues or if traffic jams are just a part of your daily routine. If you travel the same roads every day and know the likelihood of running into traffic jams, you can develop a traffic jam survival kit ahead of time to help you manage stress. Having certain items with you will help you manage the stress if you have to deal with the headache of traffic issues.

1. Exit during traffic jams, stay in your car and read

Of course you should think about safety when you consider using this option to manage stress during a traffic jam. If you are familiar with the route, you should know where you can safely exit the highway and pass the time and where it's safer to stay in your vehicle in the traffic jam. I spent many hours in supermarket parking lots, studying just to avoid the slow drag caused by traffic jams on the 10 Freeway through Los Angeles.

2. Tune in to talk radio during a traffic jam

No matter what your interest, I guarantee you there is a talk radio station with content that would help you manage stress during a traffic jam. Whether you are a Dr. Laura or Howard Stern fan, listening to your favorite word smith during a traffic jam helps you pass the time. Aword of caution - If you are already stressed because of the traffic delay, avoid listening to talk shows where views contrary to your own may be discussed. This might enhance rather than decrease your stress level during a traffic jam and that is not what you want.

3. Listen to traffic information on the radio

It is almost routine for us to tune into that all-news station, the minute we see break lights and realize we might be in the traffic jam for a while. Usually all-news station can give insight into major traffic jams especially during rush hours. If you don't hear the delay you are in, being reported, feel free to call it in. Traffic jam updates can give you alternatives, tell you if and when lanes clear and where exactly the bottlenecks causing the traffic jams are located. Sometimes all you need to manage the stress is some information.

4. Relax and do some deep breathing exercise to manage your stress and calm your nerves

This is really important if you are stressed because you are running late and you have no choice but to sit there. Rather than scream to yourself in the car, place an index finger over one nostril and breathe in and out through the other nostril. Alternate breathing this way for a few minutes. The extra oxygen works every time to help you manage stress and calm nerves.

5. Consider a detour during a traffic jam

Sometimes detours work and sometimes detours do not work when you are trying to get out of a traffic jam. Detours can put you on surface streets that take you so far out of your way that they end up adding significant time and stress to your trip. This is especially true if you don't know where you are going. If you hear about an alternative route on the radio, weigh the time and effort to follow the detour rather than wait out the traffic jam.

6. Take a mini vacation during a traffic jam

If traffic is backed up and you are not on a tight schedule, rather than sit in your car, use your navigation equipment and find something you prefer to do like shopping. Visit a library, a zoo or just go sight seeing. Visit a bookstore and spend time perusing titles about a hobby while you enjoy a tea or coffee. You will get back on the road, refreshed and ready to continue the trip. If the traffic jam is in an area where you have friends, make a call and stop for a quick visit.

7. Discuss something or play games

If you are in a traffic jam, with a car full of other people - discuss something. Think about the traffic jam as you would a long road trip. The difference is that instead of burning up miles, you are burning up time. My family has spent many hours in traffic jams or on road trips, debating books, politics, music or current events. When the children were younger we played games, like "Concentration", "Punch Dub" or "I Spy".

Pack these three items in your traffic jam survival-kit to help manage stress if you are completely stopped by a traffic jam.

8. Kindle, Nook or other eReader

If you take the same roads every day, you roughly know the likelihood of running into major traffic jams, where traffic is just completely stopped, you should be able to pull out your Kindle or your Nook and catch up with your reading. This is a sure way to help you manage stress during a traffic delay.

9. Knit one, Pearl two during a traffic jam

If you have a hobby like knitting, crocheting or tatting and are stalled in a traffic jam. You may be able to get a few stitches in on your project.

10. Pull out your Soduku, Crossword puzzle or Find-A-Word

Keep a book of your favorite word game in your glove compartment to use during traffic jams.