Things you can also do in traffic

Belgium has the heaviest traffic jam in Europe, not only during rush hour, but also during the day. You can easily be stuck in traffic even in the weekend if unlucky. The mobility problem in Belgium is worth another post, today I am going to share what you can do when you are stuck in traffic to minimize the time loss, the below can apply when you are familiarized in driving.

1. Listen to the radio
This is the most basic, in Belgium the radio updates you the traffic, the weather and global news, you can also enjoy the popular music in trend. If you happen to be learning the local language like me, then it is a chance also to practice the listening. 😉

2. Familiarize your favorite music

You also want to go to Kara-Okay and sing your favorite song without looking at the screen? Well, this is the chance for you to practice it, if you are alone, you should even sing out loud.

3. Have breakfast or a snack
I never have enough time in the morning to have my breakfast, I prefer to sleep a little bit more to chase away my sleepiness. However, I am a huge breakfast believer, I take my breakfast to work or eat at the canteen. For the days when traffic is bad, I take the time to enjoy my breakfast in the car. It is also a good idea to keep some snacks and drinks in the car in case you are in the traffic longer than usual.

4. Update the loved ones

I take the road time to call my friends and families just to update each other.
Me and my sister are both multi-taskers(not sure if it is a word, but you get the idea). Whenever I call my sister, I would hear her cleaning the dishes, running, or sometimes even playing piano! I got her super power as well, so very often when I am driving, I begin to call my mum, my sister, or my close friends since I could not see them often. It is a good opportunity to kill the time and update each other especially if the other one is also in traffic.

5. Do the make up
As I told I don’t spend much time in the morning before hitting on the road, I carry also my make up bag with me. When the traffic is really bad, which btw happens often, I could finish my make up in the car. But don’t do it while driving!

6. Learn some Dutch or French words
Whatever languages you are now learning, you cannot build up your vocabulary on one day!
I prepare a list of new words in a post-it the night before and stick it on the car, I just need a glance while driving and begin to repeat it. Usually I can remember 10 words one day just in my car while commuting to work, you can do the math!

7. Mentally prepare for your day
Whether you are still in a project or will have a brand new start today, it is always good to organize a bit your list, it needs only a bit of time but when you get work, you can start immediately.

8. Stay calm
It is bad enough that everyone is losing time on the road, but being irritated and annoyed will not change anything. Being aggressive to other drivers are even a risk to cause some more accidents, resulting in longer jams. It is best to stay calm and smile at other drivers.

[Update]9. Listen to audio book or podcast
Did you ever have some books that you want to read but never have enough time? Audio book(app audible) or podcast(also an app) is a great option! Not only can you listen to it while driving, but also while cleaning, jogging, walking and so on. We are living in a digital world, so make use of it! I got the recommendation from friends, apparently you can listen to a book, a movie or other programs from audible or podcast.

Hope this post can help others who is also stuck often in traffic, if you have other ideas, don’t hesitate and leave some comments.