Sponsored Content, By Chelsea Bancroft
Check GPS every day.
We all know Austin traffic is horrible. One minor accident can cause a huge delay. Check Google Maps or Waze every single day to make sure your normal route is clear. The one day I didn’t, I got caught behind an accident that delayed me more than 30 minutes. I haven’t made that mistake again!
Jam out.
Put your favorite Spotify playlist on and belt it out! Studies have shown singing, in general, produces feel-good hormones and helps reduce road rage.
Learn something new.
Don’t make your time spent in the car a waste. Listen to an audio book or podcast to learn something new—or just purely for entertainment.
Catch up with friends and family.
Do you feel bad about not calling your mom more often? Use your commute time to call friends or family members you’ve been meaning to catch up with (hands-free, of course). It helps pass the time, and I guarantee it will make their day too.
Keep your car clean.
A car that is clean and clutter-free can help you feel less stressed and anxious, which is especially important when you’re stuck in traffic.
Add some lavender.
Lavender has been shown to seriously reduce stress and anxiety. And it smells great. Keep a sachet of dried lavender in your car or get a mini essential-oil diffuser to bring along that relaxing smell on the go.
Chew gum.
This one may sound weird, but research has revealed peppermint or cinnamon gum can help increase alertness and ease frustration behind the wheel. Plus, you’ll show up to work with fresh breath.
Take a deep breath.
When all else fails, take a couple deep breaths. Don’t let traffic, discourteous drivers or road rage get the best of you and ruin your day.
I hope these tips help. If you have a car- or driving-related topic you’d like to know more about, send me an email and I might write about it in next month’s article.
Chelsea Bancroft is the strategic-partnerships and social-media manager at Roger Beasley Mazda and a blogger at onechelofanadventure.com.