Six (6) Ways To Beat The Traffic Stress

Traffic congestion is inevitable. One way or another, you are bound to encounter it at least once in your lifetime especially if you live or work in a city environment. The secret then lies on how to deal with it so you will not be stressed when you come across a jam or two.

How To Beat Traffic Stress

Regardless if you are on your way to a restaurant to have a dinner date with your partner or out to meet a client for a meeting, learn the top ways to beat traffic stress.

1.       Plan your trip. Do remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Leave your place early and allot allowance for jams and road emergencies. This is especially helpful if you are visiting the site the first time or if the area is prone to traffic congestion. It will definitely lessen your anxiety if you are aware that you have plenty of time to spare to reach your destination. In case you arrive ahead of schedule, you can easily use the extra minutes to relax or socialize online.

2.       Install traffic-related apps on your smartphone. Get alerted of the current road conditions and delays straight to your mobile. Be informed of alternate routes and shortcuts. Know the latest updates real-time, as it happens. For instance, if your office is located in a commercial space in Makati, you can quickly get around Makati City with the information provided in the mobile application and see which directions to take to reach your workplace faster.

3.       Avoid stressing yourself on purpose. Stop looking at your watch or phone every other minute to assess how long you have been stuck and idle. This will only increase the tension you are feeling at the moment. Also, research has shown that traffic noise raises blood pressure and can lead to heart attack. Hence, keep from honking your horn or yelling out as if you’re looking for a fight. If you are headed for work or an appointment, call someone to tell them that you will be otherwise delayed.

4.       Bring water and fruits everytime you travel. Drinking water and eating a banana, or any type of fruit for that matter, are great stress relievers. Therefore, staying hydrated and healthy will definitely help too.

5.       Keep yourself occupied. Listening to music is a wonderful way to calm your nerves so play some relaxing MP3s from your player. Use this chance to meditate on the activities you have planned for the day.

6.       Stay positive. There is nothing more effective than looking at the situation positively. If the reason for the jam is caused by an accident, this is the perfect opportunity to count your blessings that you are not the direct receiver of the mishap.

Choosing Makati City As A Place To Live In

Metro Manila is the head city for the Philippines but it is comprised of different cities, Makati City being one of them. Metro Manila is one of the most populated areas in the country but it is also the most thriving. Makati City is the most popular, being hailed as the central business district in the country.

Why live in Makati City?

Real Estate in the business district is considered prime, never losing value over the years. In fact, the whole city is a prime stretch of real estate property, even the areas not peppered with buildings and towers. Investors have compared it business hubs like Wall Street in New York, US or Orchard Road in Singapore. Residential and commercial properties are more expensive – but worth every single penny, especially if you look at long-term investing.

Makati City, aside from being a business district, is very cosmopolitan. This makes it very popular with expats who chose to live here. You have commercial establishments like the Ayala Center that holds malls, restaurants, bars and even world-class Makati City hotels.


Don’t limit the city to just expats though. There is more to Makati City than the infamous stretch of Ayala Avenue. For example, Pasong Tamo is popular among Asian foreigners, calling it “Manila’s Little Japan”. Jupiter Avenue caters to the young and hip crowd having bars and boutique hotels in its stretch of a road.

The city has the best schools too. While most of the focus on the city tends to gravitate towards businesses, most tend to overlook that the city is very family-friendly too. The city government has a very impressive public school system, comparable to top notch private schools. Residential areas are also equipped with parks, playgrounds and day care centers. They also give back to senior citizens, giving them free movie passes, easier access to benefits and hospital and even sending them a birthday cake on their birthdays.


These are little things that are really BIG things. One resident is quick to point out that one doesn’t get that same privilege living in other cities. While traffic can be a way of life in a highly urbanized city, Makati City has its own traffic police group that is quite known to be strict and unbendable. This leads to organized traffic flow, something you would highly appreciate during rush hour.

Makati City isn’t just for doing business; it can also be where you can plant your family roots.

Top Places To Stay In Makati

Metro Manila is home to many of the major cities in the Philippines. This is where you will find many of the business districts that play hosts to various local and multinational companies. These areas are often the busiest and most commercial, with the large number of restaurants, malls, hotels, and other establishments that you can find.

The top business district in the Philippines remains to be the one in Makati City. For many, many years, the Ayala Avenue in Makati has grown to become an iconic landmark whenever one thinks about the typical financial and business district. It is not surprising that Makati is also home to the most number of hotels and serviced apartments which are among the top places to stay in Metro Manila. Below are some of these top Makati hotels.

• Raffles Hotel. A very new hotel which was just recently opened in December 2012, the Raffles hotel immediately created a buzz and ranked itself among the best hotels in Makati. This hotel has a homey atmosphere and a subdued elegance which make it a perfect luxurious home away from home. Those who have stayed in this hotel only have raves for the generous space, high class amenities, and excellent customer service.
  
  
  
• Makati Shangri-La. A well-known hotel at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue, the Makati Shangri-la has long earned its reputation for elegance and excellence. It is the hotel of choice for many of those who want a high-end hotel in Makati. Whether you are looking for a hotel for a quick relaxing stay, for business purposes, or an event, the Makati Shangri-La is always among the top choices.
  
  
  
• Hotel Durban. A hotel that gives value for money, the Hotel Durban is a lower-priced hotel that provides everything that you want in a hotel. This is a small but chic hotel compared to other hotels in Makati but many find their stay worth it.
  
  
  
• New World Makati Hotel. Conveniently located just across Greenbelt shopping center, the New World Makati Hotel is a true five-star hotel that offers excellent rooms, services, and food. The steeper price that this hotel commands is commensurate with the quality of service and amenities that it provides.
  
  
  
• Fairmont Makati. Another new hotel, the Fairmont hotel is actually located in the same complex as the Raffles hotel and both are owned by the same company. Apparently, they share more than location and owner because Fairmont Makati is also being lauded for the six-star hotel experience that it provides.