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7 Ways to Reduce Stress When Stuck in Traffic

17 March 2023
7 Ways to Reduce Stress When Stuck in Traffic

Over 42 percent of Filipinos use public buses and trains as their main mode of transportation while 22.3 percent prefer private motorcycles. As a result, Metro Manila traffic ranked 8th as one of the cities with the highest traffic congestion rate, putting one of the worst in Southeast Asia. What's more, Filipinos lose 98 hours to traffic every year in Manila alone.  

 

Traffic in the Philippines is a long overdue government problem. It’s been decades since the national government is doing everything to solve traffic congestion. There are number coding schemes, traffic monitoring, jeepney modernization, and separate lanes for public utility vehicles, buses, and private vehicles imposed by the Metro Manila Development Authority and Land Transportation Office. But at the end of the day, the situation is still the same as the number of motor vehicles plying Metro Manila's roads is increasing.


On the other hand, many Filipinos are hopeful with the government’s ambitious road infrastructure projects to ease the traffic jams. Among these are Metro Manila Subway Station funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), bypass roads, road widening, and additional bridges through national and local government units.


While all these projects are under development and ongoing construction, purchasing a house and lot in the Philippines is only ideal if you prefer to choose nearby provinces. But in the meantime, let us help you relieve the stress caused by traffic.

 

How to Reduce Stress When Stuck in Traffic Congestion

Those lost time could have let you earn some extra money or travel to another city. Instead of blaming the situation, it would be better if you divert yourself to something more productive and positive.

 

 

Listen to the music.

The quickest way to entertain yourself is to listen to music. Music can feed your hungry soul, and calm your inner self. Before riding on public transport, make sure your phone is loaded with your favorite music and put your headset on. You can also listen to Spotify if you have mobile data.

 

 

Stream podcasts, videos, or movies.

Besides music, you can also binge-watch your favorite movies or drama series or stream podcasts. An episode of drama series takes an hour while movies and podcasts can be streamed for more than an hour. Once you got hooked on them, you’ll never think how long you’ve been stuck in the middle of Metro Manila roads. 

 

 

Play a mobile game.

Another way to kill a time is to play a mobile game. If you don’t have data, you can download offline games in your home. Choose games that tickle your mind, such as board games, puzzles, guessing games, and role-playing games. 


Of course, you can also play some of the most popular online games like Mobile Legends and Valorant. But the thing is, you’ll have an unstable connection while on the road, making you get disconnected from the game. So, choose your game wisely; otherwise, you’re going to lose your current game rank.

 

 

Have a quick snack.

Getting stuck in traffic can take a few hours and you’re already famished once you get home. Note that hunger can also add more stress, so why not bring some food while taking a bus or train? Treat yourself to a little snack, such as chocolates, fast food specials, or crackers. Don’t forget to bring water to fill your stomach.

 

 

Check your calendar.

If you prefer to be productive, you can also check your calendar to reorganize your schedule, such as going to the grocery or having an appointment with someone. Since you already know how long you’ll be stuck in traffic, adjust the time to avoid disappointing someone.

 

 

Face your anger and accept it.

Anger and frustration are two common emotions you need to deal with despite the situation you are in. You can do nothing with it but accept it. Once you recognize anger, you can easily manage your emotion. But keep in mind that anger can cause irresponsible behavior that you might regret in the future once you realized what you’ve done. So, think before you act hastily.

 

 

Think positive.

Although it is difficult to keep calm during traffic, don’t lose your cool. Control your emotions and think of something positive. You can have a chit-chat with your fellow passengers. Or, extend your help to someone who needs one, like an old lady passenger wanting to take off the bus or jeepney or a passenger holding plenty of groceries wanting to ride. Also, a simple smile gesture can bring a positive impact not only on yourself but also on others.

 

 

How to Avoid Getting Stuck in Traffic

There are also other ways to reduce your stress from traffic, you need to avoid getting stuck in it. Here’s what you can do.

 

 

Avoid the rush hours.

Whether you’re going out from home, work, or doing some errands, avoid riding public transport during peak hours. You already know the time when will the traffic situation starts wherein a volume of road users is visible. If you can’t avoid it and you’re driving a car or motorcycle, use alternate routes. But, if you are a commuter, take the train. If you have a bicycle, you can take bike lanes to avoid traffic in the major cities of the National Capital Region.

 

 

Don’t leave if unnecessary.

If you only go out to buy your favorite food or non-essential things, use online apps that provide delivery services. Make use of technology if you want to pay your bills, such as paying your monthly amortization from your purchased affordable house and lot. Avoid leaving your home if it is not important.

 

 

Live near your work.

Living within the business district is expensive. But you have the option to choose to live in the suburban cities nearby. Look for properties that are near your work, transportation, and major roads with minimal traffic. Think of this investment as the most efficient way to save your time and money if you are always stuck in messy traffic.

  

 

Are you looking for the most affordable house and lot for sale near Metro Manila? Lumina Homes is one of the trusted property developers of master-planned residential communities in the Philippines. All our properties are located at the nearest commercial establishments, city centers, and other essential needs. Expect that traffic will be a thing of the past once you become a Lumina resident.

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