This morning, I woke up late again. I rushed through everything, dropped my kids at school just in time, and now it’s 8:30 AM. I’m supposed to be at college soon, but with 20 minutes of travel ahead and heavy traffic, I’m already stressing about being late—again.

I ask my driver to speed up. I keep glancing at my watch, anxiety rising with every tick. My head aches, my heart races. I replay my morning in my mind: the kids who wouldn’t wake up with one call, the slow pace getting ready, my husband not helping with morning chores. Anger bubbles up alongside the worry. Fear creeps in — What will I say to HR? How will I explain being late?

For the entire 45-minute journey, my mind is trapped in tension and guilt. I blame myself, blame everyone, curse the terrible traffic. This mental turmoil feels like a punishment I give myself every day for being late. And it’s taking a toll—my health suffers. Anxiety is no joke; it fuels diabetes, hypertension, and more.

But here’s the question: am I not allowed to relax and enjoy these 45 minutes of travel, even if I’m late?

Will worrying clear the traffic? Will feeling guilty rewind time? Will my car start flying if I’m anxious? Of course not. These emotions don’t change anything.

So if anger, fear, and guilt don’t solve the problem, why not choose to be calm and happy instead? I’m not saying it’s okay to be late. I’m accepting that today I won’t make it on time. But at least I can take care of myself—relax, listen to music, and save my energy for when I get to work.

What can I do? Wake up earlier tomorrow, ask my family for support, or accept the consequences of being late. These are my options. My emotions won’t change the outcome, so I choose to handle them wisely.

Next time you’re stuck in traffic or running late, try to breathe and relax a bit.

Have you noticed how your emotions during stressful moments affect your physical health?