With school back on and half the roads in Metro Manila still undergoing construction, the commute to and from work can only be described as hellish. But while there’s not a lot you can do about the situation, that’s not to say that you can’t do anything while stuck in back-to-school traffic! Check out some of our ideas to help you while the time away below.

1. Catch up on your horror novels.

Reading a ghost story on your own is no less scary than watching a horror film by yourself. If you have any spine-tingling novels you’ve always wanted to read, read them on your way to or from work. Since you’re surrounded by a lot of people, you don’t have to worry about anything jumping out at you or your imagination playing tricks on you.

2. Listen to a cool podcast.

You can always listen to music whenever you want to, but if you want to take things up a notch, consider adding podcasts to your player instead. Start by going to TEDTalks--they have a great selection of people whose ideas are worth listening to.

3. Beat your kids’ score at Candy Crush.

Your kids may have game, but show them that mom is still the best by beating their record on Candy Crush. Not only will it help time go faster (trust us, you’ll almost be disappointed when you do get home), it will also impress your kids.

4. Make a mental gratitude list.

When was the last time you actually sat down and counted your blessings? While you're waiting for the cars in your lane to start moving, take a few minutes to round up everything that you're grateful for. You know what they say, the more you think about your blessings, the more you attract positive things in your life.

(1. Photo courtesy of Barnes and Noble 2. Photo by Yutaka Tsutano via Flickr Creative Commons 3. Photo by Albert Hsieh via Flickr Creative Commons 4. Photo by Write By Numbers via Flickr Creative Commons)