Waking up at an ungodly hour on a Monday morning just to start early on your morning routine – to have enough time to shower and to grab your cup of coffee – takes a lot of effort from everyone sporting some sort of a post weekend depression. Apart from that PWD, we also have to take into account the travel time from one point to the other – which should have considerably been the least of our worries since we have the skyway… but unfortunately, that isn’t exactly our reality. Most of the time, we need to leave an extra hour in our usual travel time before we’re needed in our respective commitments, which should have been more than enough time for a supposed thirty five-minute drive and a five-minute hunt for parking.
However, one significant life lesson I learned from driving in Metro Manila is that “ample time” in the context of driving is not in this country’s dictionary. All I have to say is that, brace yourselves for the multiple surprises that come your way while on the road– just because #itsmorefuninthePhilippines.
Perhaps it’s safe to assume that experiencing a gridlock on the road is one of the most frustrating experiences anyone can have; this is exactly why we should just take this impossible situation on a positive perspective and make most out of it. What is there to do while gridlocked? Finding ways to make the most of every situation and not putting any time to waste is a lifestyle we definitely need to try.
Some things you can do while on the gridlock:
1) Meditate
Use this time to think. Reflect on your past days. What can you do
today to change what you weren’t proud of doing yesterday? Perhaps making
a mental note on your to-do list for the day might speed up your work and
maximize today’s time.
2) Talk to people
Put your mom on speaker phone. Talk to your parents. See
how they’re doing, and what they’re up to for the day. Check in on your
friends. Use this free time, from you busy schedules, to work on your
relationships. It’s good to keep tabs. Don’t be a stranger to your loved ones –
the least you can do is to be in the know if you can’t afford to be physically
available.
3) Refresh yourself
If you’re not behind the wheel, use this time to do a little
refreshing. A little refreshing spray can go a long way in making you feel
better and less frustrated about the traffic. Pad on a little powder. Dab more
lipstick. This might just help you boost your confidence for the activities to
come in the day.
4) Fuel your body
Eat up for the day! If you’re in a hurry, pack your breakfast on
the go. Never skip this meal, as it’s the most important one, and eat up on
your healthy grains and protein to fuel your body for the day!
 
5) Listen to the radio or your favorite podcast
Although most may argue that radio is dead, there are still a few stations that offer either great music or great
conversation. Listening to the morning talk show may even inform us with
today’s news and affairs – something we must always be knowledgeable
about. But if you’d rather use this time to wake yourself up, put the music in
blast and go sing your heart out!
Although it really depends on each person, these are just a few personal tips I
wanted to share to make each trip less horrible and more productive. Having a
positive outlook on life makes every challenge an opportunity – like a life with a glass
half full!