3 things I love to do when I am stuck in Mumbai traffic

Read

This is the most obvious and enjoyable on my list and I'll include it first since you were expecting it. Yes, read. Leave the texting and web browsing alone for a few precious minutes (or hours!) and enjoy the physical presence of an entertaining book; or feast your eyes upon your favorite digital reader and get lost in a story that transports you far away from the dead-eyed stares of drivers who look like they're about to pull a Michael Douglas from the movie, Falling Down! You remember that one, about the guy stuck in traffic and goes berserk?

Besides, reading is good for you. Researchers from the University of Sussex found that reading for as little as six minutes can reduce stress levels by more than two thirds. Additionally, fiction fans are more likely to experience “boosts of empathy” when engaged in a good read. “In two experimental studies, we were able to show that self-reported empathic skills significantly changed over the course of one week for readers of a fictional story by fiction authors Arthur Conan Doyle or José Saramago,” Netherlands researchers wrote. “More specifically, highly transported readers of Doyle became more empathic, while non-transported readers of both Doyle and Saramago became less empathic.”

What does this mean for avid readers stuck in traffic? You'll likely be more relaxed than your fellow travellers. And you'll completely empathise with them when they resort to obsessive horn blasting and head-pounding on their steering wheels. At least in theory.

Take up a hobby

I've recently started packing my point-and-shoot Canon with me everywhere when I'm not officially shooting photography with my proper DLSR. I've gotten quite a few decent shots of street life from a moving auto rickshaw. Travelling in bad traffic has become less of a burden and more of an opportunity to be creative during times when I've typically zoned out instead.

There are dozens of hobbies you can engage in to make those numerous point A to point B trips more worthwhile. If you're lacking ideas, here's a list of 150 hobbies to get you started. Granted, physical activities mentioned like karate and archery may best be reserved for their proper venues, but yoga might be practical in some instances. And wouldn't it be refreshing to see someone on the train putting on a puppet show or performing magic? Mumbai is missing some of that charm you can find in some European subways. Then again, it would take some real strong magic to make the crowds vanish into thin air to make room for such activities! Choose a hobby you can do in your own personal space.

The right hobby can also be beneficial to your health. Dr Lisa Stearns, founder of the Center for Pain and Supportive Care in Phoenix, describes several of these health benefits. They include improving self-confidence, a boost in endorphins, and slowing the aging process, among others.

Eat

Sounds a little boring to be mentioned at all. For me, it's a mindless need that many of us disregard due to time restraints. That's why so many of us skip eating at times when we have “better things to do". Not good to skip out on meals, especially breakfast, we are told repeatedly by doctors and nutritionists. On my morning commute to work back in the States, it wasn't uncommon for me to have a quick bite for breakfast. It was one of the aspects I enjoyed about public transport – the opportunity to do all those mundane but important activities. Even now, I'll occassionally snack during any long trips across Mumbai.

For the majority of us, eating a full meal while commuting isn't practical. But snacking, especially with a little planning in advance, is a healthy way to keep energised and motivated. Alanna Cabrero, of the Colombia University Medical Center, advocates for smart snacking during long commutes and devised a healthy snack menu for those of us with little time to spare once we're on the road. “Long commutes can lead to poor food choices,” Cabrero writes. “Snacking can be a lifesaver in a busy, on-the-go lifestyle, but we need to be careful in choosing healthier snacks and not overdoing the quantity.”

What do you do during your commute?