This guide outlines several things you can do to make better use of your time when commuting to work.
We get it! Commuting to work is an activity that is not very popular in the eyes of just about everybody who has to do it. It’s a time that many people regard as wasted, as it’s basically part of their working day but without the added benefit of receiving payment. However, this isn’t to say that nothing of use can be achieved during this time, in fact, quite the opposite is true.
Often commuting to work is the first thing that you do in the day, so trying to convince yourself to use this time productively can be an unappealing prospect.
Enjoy commuting to work: tactics
However, getting into the habit of making the most of the time commuting to workcan help you be more productive and start your day off on the right foot.
Train Your Brain
There are many excellent brain-sharpening apps for both Android and PC phones and tablets that you can use while commuting to work. Using these on a daily basis will sharpen your mental capacities, your ability to solve problems more easily and quickly, and even your mathematics and mental reflexes. The bonus: you arrive at work or at home with your brain in good shape. And if it’s on the way home, it’s a good way to focus on something else other than the work day!
Use a Theraband
You would be surprised the amount of exercise you can get commuting to work while in your seat. Obviously, you can’t bring barbells and weights on your commute, but a Theraband is a great (and quiet) way to exercise and tone muscles without even disturbing your fellow passengers. With some exercises, such as putting the end of the Theraband under your foot and doing hamstring curls, most of your fellow travellers commuting to work won’t even know you are doing it.
Have Some Fun
Sometimes, you don’t want to be productive commuting to work first thing in the morning, especially before a whole day of work. Cramming your day full of too many activities like this could just end up being more stressful than useful, so it’s not something that you should force yourself to do if you don’t feel you would benefit from it. In this case, you might just want to use this time to have some fun and put yourself in a better mood before having to go to work.
In this case, there are a few traveling companions who can help you out massively. The first is a good book, which can give you a chance to take your eyes off of a screen for a good period – which might be especially appreciated if your job usually puts you in front of a monitor. Alternatively, your phone is a multi-purpose tool that can allow you to access a plethora of activities, such as online gambling sites.
Learn Something New
Again, this is an area where your phone can really help (or a book for that matter), thanks to the wide range of apps available on most smartphones. If you don’t find yourself with a huge amount of free time in the rest of your day to do something productive such as this, thanks to work, you could use this opportunity of commuting to work to do so, taking back control of the time you do have.
For example, you could try to learn a bit more of a language every day, and you might find that integrating it into your daily schedule in this way helps you to consistently learn.
Simply Relax
Life can be stressful, and if you’re finding it difficult to find much of a reprieve due to your mounting responsibilities, you can use this time commuting to work to take a moment for yourself. This can be especially important if this is indeed the first activity in your day, in which case it gives you a chance to start off on the right foot.
For example, if you’re on the train, you can just watch the passing scenery and let your mind drift. However, you might find that this leads your mind to fly off in random directions that don’t prove to be relaxing. Instead, deploying breathing techniques might give you a more focused approach to remaining calm.
Do Some Work
This one of course, is only applicable to office types of work — and only if you want to. But there is a certain feeling of well-being in getting a start on the next day’s tasks! It’s not one that we recommend if work is burning you out or stressing you, but if you just want to get ahead or prepare for a busy schedule the next day, this is one strategy to consider.
