Tempering Traffic Turmoil
With the upcoming Waste Management Phoenix Open, Final Four tournament and spring training events, not to mention the 300,000 plus that flock to Arizona during the winter months, traffic will inevitably become increasingly worse.
Upon moving to Phoenix, the adjustment to its traffic was one I had to make quickly. And just when I feel like I have the hang of it, it rears its ugly head and throws something new my way. Pair this with the abysmal amount of patience I possess and we’ve got ourselves a sticky situation.
In an effort to “temper” my temper, I’ve begun to rely heavily on audiobooks and podcasts. I have learned that taking the extra 5-10 minutes in the morning to download a book or find a great podcast does a world of good and eases the anxiety I feel on my morning commute.
My favorite audiobook app to use is OverDrive. It’s one of the few reputable and free ones I have found, the only hang-up being that you must have a library card—an incredibly easy fix. OverDrive accesses your library’s audiobook database and allows you to download or place a hold on whichever book you choose. I recommend downloading the files directly to the app while you have Wi-Fi so that while listening on your drive, you aren’t using any data.
Here are some other great audiobook apps:
- Hoopla Digital – similar to OverDrive in that it accesses your library’s collection
- Audible – $15 per month
- Downpour – $13 per month
- Scribd – $9 per month
As for podcasts, I tend to stick with NPR, my favorite being the NPR Politics Podcast (of which my beloved Sam Sanders has left to join another podcast). It was especially entertaining during the tail end of the presidential election and remains to be a constant source of great discussion, inspiration and a fine example of solid news broadcasting for me.
From a PR perspective, the NPR Politics Podcast gets my mind going for the day, introducing me to topics that may be relevant to HMA or our clients. It sometimes gives me fodder for a blog post. Whatever the reason, it’s legitimate information that is relevant to a number of situations.
Other podcasts I suggest trying:
- TED Radio Hour
- Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me
- Stuff You Should Know
- Freakonomics Radio
- This American Life
- Serial
So before you shove your fist through the window, bang your head against the steering wheel or come “this close” to rear-ending someone out of anger, take a breath, pull over and find something you’d like to listen to. There’s nothing you can do about it so you might as well enjoy the ride.
