10 Best Ways to Improve Your Daily Commute
Your daily commute to work, whether you are driving and driving or taking a bus or train and waiting, should not be wasted. Whether you’re using it productively or just for a little comfort, here are some great ways to take advantage of your downtime.
10. Listen to audiobooks or podcasts.
If you’re not yet commuting to work to watch engaging podcasts, listen to audiobooks, or just recharge and let your ears and brain do the hard work, you should start. Whether you’re putting on headphones and riding the bus or train, or driving to work and connecting your phone to your car stereo, this downtime is perfect for a podcast or a chapter or two of the audio version of the book you’ve always wanted to read.
If you need a little help getting started, check out our community- created list of the best podcasts to listen to and our quick roundup of the best audiobook services to subscribe to . You will definitely find something to listen to. And don’t forget to also check out our Brain Buffet feature , where we regularly highlight podcasts worth listening to.
9. Discover new music
If you have access to the Internet while on the road in the morning, this is a great time to start a streaming station and listen to new music. Sure, sometimes you just want to start your day with music you know and love, or something that really sets the mood for the day, but other times it can be great to meet a new artist, check out the Spotify Discover playlist , try what something new like the previously mentioned Playlist a Day , or even check out a brand new music service full of tunes you won’t hear anywhere else. It’s so easy to complain that there isn’t anything good or new to listen to these days, but honestly, a little effort to find something great pays off in droves.
8. Take time for self-service
Trust me, even if you make taking care of yourself a priority (and you should definitely ), you probably won’t have enough time to compensate for the stress and anxiety of everyday life. We’re all busy and we all have a lot to do, so instead of seeing your commute as wasted and wasted time, use it as an opportunity to take care of yourself, your mental and emotional health.
Taking this opportunity, even if it is on a crowded train or highway backup, to show a little gratitude for the things and opportunities that you have . If you can, use this time to email your loved one or friend and get in touch with them. Sending a message with love takes very little time and can help you relax a lot. When my commute to work was 25 minutes each way, I used the evening ride to speak to my family on the phone. It kept me in touch with them and it was relaxing. If none of these options work for you, then downtime is a good time for a little inspiration, especially at the start of the day when you feel like starting on the right track. Either way, using this “idle” to recharge instead of worrying about the commute itself – or the work that came before or after it – can help a lot.
7. Do it slowly.
This requires you to leave your home (or office) a little early, but it can make a huge difference in how difficult it really is to get to work. There is nothing better than knowing that you can take your time and wander around to work or home after a long day. If you’re fortunate enough to have a job that doesn’t require you to sit your ass in a chair at a certain time of the day for a certain number of hours, that’s even better – you can leave the house knowing that you are. ”When you arrive, I’ll get to work and leave the office knowing you’ll come home whenever you want.
It’s a really uplifting feeling, and even if you have one of these jobs, leaving home much earlier can give you the freedom to stop and have breakfast before you head home, sit and enjoy a coffee, or sunrise, or even just don’t get discouraged. – because you had enough time to get to work, and now there are traffic jams. Try it – it changes your life. Just make sure you apply the same logic to getting home at night and actually, you know, leaving .
6. Give yourself a “daily review”
A weekly review can save you a lot of hassle and headaches , but a daily review can only give you the clarity and direction you need each morning to start your day on the right foot. Remember, the purpose of the review is not to do the job, and to make sure that you work with the right priorities, and above all decide important matters.
If you’re stuck on the train, bus, or even in your car on your way to the office, this is a great time to check your to-do list for the day, make sure the important things are at the top , make sure you are working with the right priorities (even if you think which is all important ), and make changes if necessary. If something needs to be postponed until tomorrow, it’s best to do it in the morning, when you can explain why you are doing it. Anyway, nothing like stopping at the beginning of the day to make sure you are working on the right things in the time you have, and nothing better than the end of the day to prepare everything neatly for the day ahead. It’s so powerful that it’s built into one of our favorite business applications .
5. Find a better (or different) way to get to work.
One of the best ways to improve your commute is to optimize it . In part, this has to do with finding more efficient and different ways to get to work, especially if you are tired of making your way in the same old traffic or you know your train will be packed every morning. It can even train your brain and also allow you to spend as little time as possible commuting to and from the office.
Maybe this other path is just a different route, side streets instead of highways, or a scenic route instead of a direct access. Alternatively, this could mean that part of the trip was covered and the rest of the trip was taken by public transport, or the car was thrown onto a bike, or something like that. Don’t leave options and possibilities on the table, but find what works best for you.
4. Use this as time for brainstorming.
Some of our best ideas come when we are alone with our own thoughts, able to truly comprehend the ideas we have without having something immediate that needs our attention. Maybe when you look out the window , or maybe when you shower . If this all sounds familiar, consider using travel time for the same purpose.
It doesn’t matter if you’re driving, on a bus, or on a train, let your mind wander around a bit and brainstorm. Follow your own thoughts and ideas. Maybe you can figure out a better way to solve a tough problem in the office, or maybe you finally find the time to tackle that favorite project you were about to start. Remember that downtime is not only important, but necessary .
3. Complete shutdown
Speaking of the importance of boredom, distraction and procrastination , sometimes it’s better to just shut off completely. Maybe just listen to music, or better yet, enjoy the silence or sounds around you. Do not read anything, do not check at work, turn off your phone and save battery power, but just try to relax and be in the moment. Don’t worry about work – it certainly isn’t about you. The world will keep spinning if you spend a half hour or so just focusing on getting where you need to go, safe and sound. Consider this a public service announcement. It can be tricky – we’re all busy and want to use every second of our waking hours to be productive (ideally to make our life easier later), but sometimes it’s better to just turn it off and do absolutely nothing . for some time.
2. Try meditation.
Likewise, being in the moment is a great transition to meditation. You don’t need special pillows, clothing, or a dedicated meditation room – you really just need to make sure that wherever you are and whatever you do, you are there, and your mind doesn’t drift into the next thing to do. , or some other situation that, in your opinion, requires your attention.
Meditation takes many forms, but generally think of it as a “routine maintenance” for your brain, and you can do it in a quiet room as easily as on a noisy train or a busy ring road on your way to your office. Here’s a guide to get you started , even if you’re not sure if it’s right for you.
1. Give it up, cut it down, give it up completely
Of course, no list of ways to improve your commute would be complete without the ability to ditch, shorten, or ditch commuting in favor of telecommuting (at least in some cases). Coming to work affects your overall health. – but you probably don’t need us to tell you that, you already know that. What you may not be aware of is that dropping it in some cases could mean, in fact, a $ 40,000 increase in fuel savings, maintenance, travel costs and associated health costs if your trip going to work will lead to stress.
It might be worth considering moving closer to your place of work, or at least moving to a part of the city where commuting to work is a little easier. Maybe you can convince your boss to let you work remotely a few days a week, or maybe you can find a place near public transportation so at least you don’t have to drive. Whatever you do, reducing travel time to work in most cases may be the best way to improve it.