The last bank holiday of the 2017 summer sees millions of cars on the UK’s roads and the question is: how do you beat the traffic and make the most of the long weekend without the stress of mile-long jams and congestion?
And, reports the BBC, major work on the railways will mean no trains in or out of London Euston on Saturday and Sunday.
Motorists are being told the vast majority of roadworks on motorways will have been completed or lifted by Friday morning, with work not set to resume until Tuesday but 36 sets of roadworks will stay in place for safety reasons, with some stretching more than 20 miles.
The busiest day overall will be Monday, adds the BBC, with about five million cars on the roads for ‘leisure trips’ as people either go for days out or return from a weekend away – double the number the RAC expected to see on Thursday following a survey of motorists’ plans for the weekend.
And we all know that heavy traffic, with tailbacks and congestion can cause stress – as can rushing for trains or flights only to find them already gone, delayed or cancelled.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis told the BBC: “While summer appears to have taken a leave of absence for many of us, our figures suggest drivers are undeterred and are still keen to make the most of the long weekend to spend time with friends and family in the UK.
“We recommend motorists wanting to beat the queues travel outside peak times – so avoid Friday afternoon and evening if you can and try to get away in good time if you are planning a day trip on Monday, or face a long journey home at the end of a summer holiday.”
But not everyone can avoid traffic jams and there are many studies that show that being stuck in traffic can cause undue anxiety and raise stress levels.
Already modern lives are more stressful than in years gone by and the level of mental health issues has risen. But clinical hypnotherapy can help people cope and allow them to lead a better life.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy is the largest professional body for hypnotherapy in the UK with more than 1,800 highly-qualified therapists on its register, all who are able to help people cope with stress and anxiety.
Says the NCH: “We live in a society where great demands and responsibilities are placed on us. Today, about one in seven people are suffering from stress or anxiety at any one time in the UK. And while some people manage, more and more people are showing signs of over-anxiety, which leads to stress, which can make a significant impact on the quality of life and wellbeing.”
Helping people cope with anxiety and stress is what many therapists do through hypnosis and, adds the NCH, a hypnotherapist can ‘help assess your anxiety, identifying the root of stress or anxiety’.
The council adds: “The therapist will then work with you to reach your goals using a range of different techniques. Every therapist may use slightly different techniques, but working towards the same goal.
“After sessions with a hypnotherapist you may feel more confident; more relaxed in situations that have previously challenged you. Many people say that they are calmer and that they have more clarity of thought – able to make decisions more easily.”
So, if the bank holiday weekend traffic stresses you out and leads to undue anxiety, look up an NCH therapist near you when you’re back home by clicking here. It will change things.
“People who have experienced side effects of anxiety such as insomnia, find that they are sleeping much better and as a result are able to work more effectively. It is as if hypnotherapy unlocks the potential you have to break free of negative thought patterns, and to react more positively and more confidently to situations in your life that may have previously made you anxious,” concludes the NCH.