Although opinions can and do vary on just about any subject, there is one thing most of us can agree on: commuting kind of sucks.
In fact, surveys have uncovered the extent to which people dislike their daily commute to work — and it’s quite dramatic. Many workers would happily agree to having their salaries reduced in exchange for a shorter commute; others, meanwhile, declare that cleaning a toilet is more enjoyable than commuting.
However, since it’s unlikely that we’ll witness a worldwide ban on commuting in our lifetimes, the best thing to do is change how we relate to it. Focusing on the negatives only makes it more unbearable!
So, here are 15 things you can try to get the most out of your commute.
1. Plan your day
Getting organized for the day ahead can help you be more focused and productive, minimizing your stress levels
So, it might be a good idea to start writing down your to-dos and ordering them in terms of priority and urgency in a notebook or a notes app on your phone.
If there are things you need to get done outside of work, add those in, too: the clearer the outline you create for your day, the easier it will be to move between tasks, ensuring that nothing gets left behind.
2. Read the news
Doing this before you get to work can help you avoid procrastinating by reading the news later in the day. Although there is nothing wrong with taking a five-minute break from work and reading through your favorite publication, if you do this constantly or for prolonged periods of time, it can get in the way of your productivity.
If you’re the anxious type, we don’t recommend reading the news first thing in the morning. Instead, you can catch up with industry-related news only, informing yourself of any advancements or happenings in your field.
3. Catch up with loved ones
On average, commuting takes around 27 minutes each way. That works out to almost an hour when you combine the rides to and from the office.
If you’re able to, schedule in a phone call with a friend or relative to get the time to pass faster, or catch up with any unopened messages — if you’re not driving, that is.
Sometimes, our schedules can get so overwhelming that simple tasks like responding to messages feel daunting. However, checking in on loved ones and sharing our news and thoughts with them can help us feel less isolated, ultimately lessening the stress we experience.
4. Read a book
Reading has multiple benefits: it grounds us in the moment, allows us to expand our knowledge, and helps boost our memory and concentration. So, if there are any books on your list that you haven’t gotten around to reading yet, why not start?
A pair of noise-canceling headphones can also come in handy if you have trouble concentrating on a bus or train full of people. Alternatively, listen to an audiobook if you drive to work.
It can help keep your mind off work and anything else that might be causing you to feel restless or preoccupied.
5. Listen to a podcast
Podcasts are an excellent way to enrich your knowledge. Plus, they make crawling through traffic a little more bearable, as they help take your mind off of how much you dislike driving during rush hour.
If you want to relax and clear your head before work, listen to a series on a topic that fascinates you, whether that’s music or mycology. If, on the other hand, you have made a point out of advancing your career, pick a podcast that can help you broaden your industry-related knowledge or one that provides advice on how to progress your career.
6. Get a head start with work
Okay, so this might be the very last thing you want to do in the morning. However, if you know that you have a packed day ahead, it might be worth putting together a to-do list with all your deliverables or reading through any unopened emails before you get to the office.
The sooner you start, the better, as it can ensure that you will leave the office on time in the afternoon.
7. Take a power nap
Provided that you have some time to kill (and that the road you are on has a large enough shoulder), pull over and snooze for 10–20 minutes if you’re feeling drowsy.
Power naps are thought to improve our alertness and memory, and don’t have the downside of leaving us feeling groggy like longer naps do.
If you’re commuting on public transport, on the other hand, you can sleep a little longer; but no longer than 30 minutes, otherwise you risk making your mood and cognitive performance worse due to sleep inertia!
8. Take an online class
If you have a long commute and you aren’t driving, you can spend your time gaining new skills and knowledge. Many e-learning platforms allow you to learn on the go, at the pace that suits your schedule, with offline access to course materials.
Whether you’re learning how to code, use web analytics or develop your leadership skills, using your commute time for it can free up time later in your evening. This way, you can still maintain other hobbies or spend quality time with loved ones.
9. Reflect on life
It’s important to take a step back from time to time and reflect on how far you have come and where you are headed. If it’s been a while since you last set goals for yourself, whether those are professional or personal, it may be useful to get back into the habit of doing so.
Some questions you can ask yourself to assess your current situation and where you could go from here include:
- When did I last step out of my comfort zone?
- What am I doing about the things that matter most in life?
- Am I on track to achieve the goals that I’ve set for myself?
10. Relax
When you’re used to fast-paced living, bouncing from one thing to the next from morning till nighttime, relaxing can feel almost unnatural. However, “doing nothing” actively and consciously can be a great use of your time.
So, think of what things help you unwind (that can be done safely while you’re commuting), and dedicate some time to them. This could be listening to classical music, for example, or solving a crossword puzzle, or even crocheting.
By prioritizing these activities, you could keep your stress levels lower, your heart healthier and your cognitive ability sharper.
11. Network
Experts estimate that between 50–80% of jobs are filled through networking. It's true: many companies don’t advertise their vacancies, preferring to hire people that their own employees know and trust. That’s why building professional relationships is so vital!
Even if you aren’t looking to switch jobs right now, expanding your network is never going to be a waste of time. The more you put yourself out there, the more you can build your authority in your field and make useful connections that might come in handy in the future.
12. Work on your personal brand
When was the last time you updated your portfolio, personal website or LinkedIn profile? If it’s been a while, maybe it’s time to prioritize it. The way you present yourself online can have a big impact on what clients you attract and which hiring managers notice you.
Some things to think about and work on include:
- Using the same typefaces and colors across your social profiles, résumé and personal website
- Uploading a recent, professional headshot
- Updating your skills and qualifications sections to reflect your most recent achievements
13. Use a language learning app
Learning a new language has multiple benefits: it boosts your memory and cognition, makes you more employable, and allows you to explore new cultures in a more immersive way.
Using a language learning app on the way to work, therefore, can be an excellent way to spend the time.
And who knows? If you build your knowledge to a working proficiency, you could end up unlocking new job opportunities or even having a chance at relocating and taking on work abroad!
14. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness refers to the practice of being fully present and aware of what’s going on around us. As a concept, it’s pretty simple; but in practice, it can be hard to apply. We’re so used to our minds being stimulated constantly, whether it’s social media content, news or our own responsibilities and worries that demand our attention.
Sitting still and simply observing your surroundings can help ease any anxiety you might be experiencing. This can be a great way to start your day!
15. Work on your side hustle
If you’ve got a side hustle, you can brainstorm ideas and reflect on problems on your drive to work, or even make phone calls with any collaborators to go over important details.
If you’re stuck on a bus or train for half an hour, on the other hand, you can even work on actual tasks, such as creating content for your social media accounts or responding to messages and queries.
According to a survey, you can earn an average of nearly $900 a month by running a side hustle; that can be quite beneficial at a time when living costs keep on rising.
Final thoughts
Although most of us agree that long commutes are undesirable, there are many ways to improve your journey to and from work. If you can make the most of it, then it stops feeling like a waste of time, and rather like an opportunity to relax, reflect or get a head start with your personal or work-related projects.
It can take some time and practice to learn to view your commute as “me time”, but the more conscious effort you make, the more you can enjoy it!
Are there any other ways you can think of that could make commutes more bearable or even enjoyable? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published in 2019.