Quick Tips for Keeping Your Cool in Summer Traffic

No one likes being stuck in traffic. Okay, maybe if you’re looking for a way out of Sunday dinner with the in-laws or a PTA meeting — but somehow red lights and gridlocks never seem to coincide with the activities you’re trying to avoid, just the ones you can’t afford to be late for.

Generally, your best bet to beating those traffic jam blues is being prepared. Have snacks and water on standby for when you get hangry. Throw a fun crossword puzzle in the glove box. Research alternate routes before you take off on that long drive across the state.

That being said, most of us are lucky we found our keys this morning or didn’t leave Kevin home alone. So, for the tired, the stressed, the perpetually late and woefully unprepared, here are some tips for keeping your cool in summer traffic.

Listen To a Podcast

Now, if you’re not already a pod person, you might be imagining nasally talk radio voices or poorly narrated books-on-tape. That couldn’t be more wrong.

Next time you find yourself playing with your phone in the bathroom, scroll through the current top-charted podcasts for a minute or two. There really is something for everyone — comedy, news, tech, cars, whatever you prefer. While we don’t condone phone use while driving, putting on a podcast in standstill traffic keeps you busy and lets you learn something new. (Or at least enjoy a little friendly banter while you wait.)

Jam out to Your Favorite Playlist

Podcasts just not your thing? It might sound cheesy, but it’s practically impossible to be angry when you listen to your favorite tunes at full volume. It’ll instantly lift your mood and might even make some fellow commuters smile (especially if they catch you jamming out or singing along).

Before getting behind the wheel, check out some music streaming services like Pandora, Apple Music or Spotify. They offer thousands upon thousands of songs, and all offer both free versions with the option to upgrade and avoid advertisements.

We recommend making your own “stuck in traffic” playlist. It’s fun and gives you something to look forward to whenever you’re in a traffic jam.

Increase Your Car’s Interior Comfort

Since you’ll be in the car for a while, why not make it as comfortable as possible? The aftermarket is practically bursting at the seams with countless innovative, cool and completely wacky items that can transform your car into a place you’d actually enjoy sitting in during traffic.

Start with that driver’s seat. Consider adding a lumbar support pillow to ease up on back pain, and maybe grab a support cushion for your bottom while you’re at it. Since steering wheels can get hot and uncomfortable to touch — both from the sun beating through the windshield and your claw-like grip — look into adding a cooling gel cover for the next big trip.

Seat belt covers are a simple but smart upgrade too, as they help stop that irritating chafing of nylon-against-neck. Kids in particular are famous for complaining about this discomfort, often leading them to (unsafely) loop the belt behind their shoulder. A product like Seat Pets makes long trips easier by cushioning the seat belt with a cute and snuggly stuffed animal.

Start Using Essential Oils

Along the lines of interior comfort, adding an essential oil diffuser can have a major impact on your mood. In addition to rejuvenating your senses, certain scents can aid in alertness and even calm your nerves.

There are different effects and advantages for each specific oil, but the ideal ones for traffic anxiety are geranium, grapefruit, peppermint, lemon, lime or rosemary. Avoid the scents that’ll make you so calm you become sleepy when driving — such as lavender or chamomile — and be aware that some oils are toxic to pets, like tea tree, mint, and cinnamon. (A puking pup in the backseat will certainly not make your trip more enjoyable.)

If essential oils sound a little “too much” for you, then we recommend adding a pleasantly-scented interior car cleaner to your monthly upkeep.

Chemical Guys offers easy-to-use air detailers in a really wide variety of scents, from pineapple to black cherry to baby powder. In addition to having a sweet-smelling cabin, you’ll get the added bonus of a sparkling dashboard that repels dirt and dust.

The company also offers a long line of spray-on air fresheners and odor eliminators if your carpets and upholstery need a quick blast of fresh scent.

Something else to consider when it comes to interior air quality is your car’s cabin air filter. Responsible for filtering out dust, dirt, allergens and other harmful pollutants, this part can grow clogged quickly – especially if you regularly drive down dusty backroads or congested highways. Keep it clean by remembering to regularly check and replace as needed.

Practice Mindfulness

It’s no shocker that stressful situations affect your health – more so if they are extended and frequent. From increased anxiety and blood pressure to rising cholesterol and upset stomach, the adverse effects of stress are not pretty.

It’s crucial to find actionable ways to relax, and what better way to do so than by practicing mindfulness? This type of meditation can help eliminate any negative and stress-inducing thoughts you might be experiencing, and can be done without closing your eyes, sitting cross-legged or humming “ohm” sounds.

Consider doing some 1-minute mindfulness exercises like box breathing, where you breathe in specific counts while picturing a box. It might sound silly, but these practices are proven to help calm the mind and quiet anxious thoughts.

Check out free apps like Insight Timer, which offers more than 10,000 guided meditations, ambient sounds and the feature to select a time to help build a daily habit.

Keep a Safe Following Distance

Just because you’re sitting in standstill traffic or moving at a snail’s pace, doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. Low-speed accidents can still cause a lot of damage, so it’s important to continue practicing defensive driving. Plus, you’re likely to run into aggressive drivers and tailgaters; keeping a safe distance is an excellent rule of thumb.

To determine your safe following distance, the minimum should be at least three seconds between you and the car in front. This can be done by using an object like a tree, bridge, or shadow on the road. Once the car’s rear bumper in front passes that object, you should start counting – one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, etc. If you can’t get to the three by the time your front bumper crosses that same object, it’s time to give the guy in front of you a little personal space and increase your following distance.

Find Alternatives to Driving Every Day

This tip might not be available for everyone, but it’s still worth noting.

It can become quite a frustrating chore for people who endure traffic and lousy driving daily. It might even get to the point where you instantly become anxious or upset when you enter the vehicle, knowing it’s coming.

Work towards finding one day a week or once a month that lets you not drive to break up the tedious routine. Walking to work, taking public transit, carpooling or asking your job if you can work from home are all options that can significantly help not make every single day feel the same.

If You Can, Get Off the Highway

This is admittedly a favorite technique among many of us here at The Engine Block. Utilize all those GPS apps and explore those back roads! The best views of the world aren’t on highways and interstates but rather on the quaint Main Streets and twisty country roads crisscrossing this enormous country.

Better yet, consider making some time to get off the road altogether, find a small-town diner and have a slice of homemade pie. Life is short, and that traffic isn’t going anywhere.