Read to know tips on how to deal with Christmas rush and traffic in the Philippines.

Oh no! The holiday rush has started and everything is happening so fast in front of your eyes, how can you keep up? If you’re overwhelmed, confused or simply don’t know where to start, take this advice from Philcarnews.com, and watch your holiday fall into place – exactly just as you planned it to be.

1. Make a List of the Important Task

Since it's the holidays and everybody you know can just be on the scale of “busy”, “busier” or “busiest”, you need to have your own strategy of getting things done just before the most awaited day steps in your calendar. You may be tempted to just wing the gift-buying task for example and get stereotype gifts for your nieces and nephews but how certain are you that you won’t forget anything? It would definitely be a bummer if one of your nieces didn’t get a gift from her favorite aunt or uncle just because they forgot about it, now would it?

That’s why it is fairly important to get your tasks ready and listed so it’s easier to do them. Here are other mini tips when making a list.

It is important to get your tasks ready and listed so it’s easier to do them

Separate the actions need to be taken from the other tasks. One can easily get lost when there are gifts that need to be bought in one list along with the task to do, dishes to cook and people to invite. To avoid pandemonium, get a list for all the dishes you plan to prepare and separate that. Get a grocery list ready as well as tasks to do like “Prepare decorations, fix stockings, accessories Christmas tree etc.,”. The most important part (the gifts) should also have their own list to avoid confusion.

Separate the actions need to be taken from the other tasks. Preparing the gift, for example, requires a separate time from other tasks

Categorize your list according to the days you have to perform the task. This may seem a little bit too much or overboard since the only list we’re used to doing is the grocery and the amount of money people owe us and who owes it. However, this is actually super helpful if you find yourself getting caught in surprise events day to day just before Christmas.

An example is that you may have promised yourself yesterday that you’ll be treating your mom to some pamper time but then your friends ask you out for “just a few hours” and before you know it, the salons are all fully-booked by people who had the same plans as you. Start visualizing your plans for tomorrow and make a list just before you go to sleep. Make sure to make your list doable or you may end up cramming tons of tasks in a day more than you can handle.

2. Remember that Time is Not Your Friend

You may be quite aware that 20 minutes can only give us so much time to do a task. In the holiday season, everything looks like it’s moving at an exceptional speed. You may have seen the perfect holiday cake or ham to serve for Christmas at the grocery just the other day and thought you wouldn’t buy it yet since it’s still a few days before the actual holiday.

The next thing you know, even your least favorite sandwich spread is running out. Value time and know that it can never ever be taken back. We’re not implying that you should’ve pounced on that cake or ham the first time you saw it, but you could have made considerations since there are a lot of shoppers and not just you. Also, being mindful of the time also helps you be aware of when traffic will start to accumulate and be the ultimate bummer. So stay away aware of where the hour and the minute hand is pointing to so you can lessen the stress brought by holiday reality.

Consider that there are a lot of shoppers too, not just you

3. Tolerate Traffic Since You Don’t Have a Choice

Traffic is like bad luck, it feels pity for nobody. No matter how much of a holiday emergency it is that you have, you will still need to tolerate traffic once you encounter it. Nobody cares if your Christmas tree needs three more Christmas balls and a star at the top or if you’re macaroni and cheese needs more cheese so you had to buy some. When it comes to traffic, the most exhibited behavior displayed by people is that it’s every man for himself. Everybody is rushing to get somewhere and there are only a few passable roads compared to hundred-thousands of cars that wish to tread on them. So If you’ve tried everything to beat traffic and you still end up sandwiched in it, then get a load of these tips below.

If you’re already in traffic, keep your cool. Play your favorite tunes and relax. Know that you will get wherever you wish to go – eventually. If there is someone else with you then enjoy their company, talk, and chat and spread the holiday cheeriness instead. If you have Wi-Fi coverage in your car, then enjoy some videos while your vehicle is at a halt. It’s best to keep your mind off the traffic ahead of you since this can be really stressful and may add up to your negative feelings. Some people who are used to experiencing traffic every day often bring their favorite sing-along music, Wi-Fi and anything else that they can fidget and play with to take their attention off traffic jams.

>>> Also check out: Commute or Ride Your Car: Which is better during Christmas Rush?

If you’re already in traffic, keep your cool

Let's take advantage! Take advantage of what? Of anything that’s legal and proven to help your holiday be more convenient. For example, you want or need to go somewhere to buy something or pick up someone but you know the rush hour has already started. If you happen to have a friend, relative or someone you know and who may be in the proximity, then ask them to do it for you instead.

If you’re looking for a specific item that you want to buy and you know that it may be hard for your friend or relative to find it, or they’re simply not available, there’s also another option for you. Surely you’ve heard of online shopping and its conveniences. You can simply order the item that you need online and have it delivered to your home without having to worry about going outside. If you live in the Metro and need the item as soon as possible, there is an option for a pick-up service to get your item immediately from the seller and have it delivered to you.  

You can simply order the item that you need online and have it delivered to your home without having to worry about going outside

>>> Click to get more tips and advice for safe driving