Today, a growing number of workers have joined the work-from-home movement, also because of the significantly reduced commuting times. However, not everyone can say goodbye to the office and turn their homes into an office! According to statistics by Bankrate, around three quarters of professionals still commute to the office, and they spend an average of 25.6 minutes just going from home to the office (a figure that increases to nearly 40 minutes for those traveling by bus!).
Although, in the past years, the average time spent commuting has decreased, workers still spend an average of 4 hours a week commuting to and from work. Fortunately, this time does not have to be wasted! With the activities below, you can use your commuting time to look after your mental, physical, and cognitive health, as well as to boost productivity and catch up with your loved ones. Learn all you need to know below.
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Listen to Podcasts
If you are a driver and use your own car to travel to work, you can make the most of this time by listening to podcasts. Over the past years, the industry has developed significantly and, today, you can find podcasts for any type of preference, length, and topic. From true crime to news and political debates, the options are truly endless! Just be sure to look for the right option in advance so you are ready to listen when you get in the car!
Practice Mindfulness and Meditation
If you are a passenger or prefer to use public transport, you can use your commuting time to build a habit of mindfulness and meditation. All you need for this is a meditation app or guided meditation video (which can be found on YouTube) and a pair of good headphones, preferably noise-canceling. Practicing meditations for just 5 minutes a day has been seen to yield significant health and cognitive benefits. So, get started today!
Read a Book
If you love to read but never seem to have enough time to catch up with your “to-be-read” list, this is the time! Take your book or e-reader on your commute with you and enjoy the genres you love most, from thrillers and mysteries to true crime, self-development, or nonfiction!
This activity has many health benefits, including:
- Enhances vocabulary
- Improves focus
- Boosts imagination
- Reduces stress
- Strengthens empathy
- Increases knowledge
- Sharpens memory
- Enhances analytical skills
- Encourages learning
Learn a New Language with Apps
If you’ve always wanted to learn another language but you are struggling to fit weekly lessons in your weekly schedule, you can put your commuting time to work! All you’ll need to do is download a language learning app, just like Duolingo or Babbel. You may also listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or even movies in the original language to boost your skills, or find an online teacher to have lessons while on the go – platforms like Preply and Cambly are great for this!
Engage With Puzzles
Puzzles can yield a range of benefits, including:
- Improves problem-solving skills
- Enhances concentration
- Boosts memory
- Reduces stress
- Sharpens cognitive abilities
- Encourages patience and persistence
Plus, all you’ll need to do to enjoy your favorite puzzles is buy a magazine or just download a crosswords or sudoku app on your phone. So, you can easily carry this form of entertainment with you wherever you go!
Enjoy an Audiobook
If you are a bookworm but you can’t read on your commute because you are driving or looking after your little one, you can catch up on your favorite stories by downloading audiobooks. Apps like Audible allow you to listen to your favorite stories, sometimes narrated by the book’s author!
Use Brain Training Apps
Your daily commute is an important time of the day to refine your cognitive skills, including problem-solving abilities, memories, and learning. A great, uncomplicated way to keep your mind sharp is to download brain training apps. These provide you with progressively challenging games that aim to stimulate your logic and mental abilities. There’s nothing better than this option to stimulate your mind and get it ready for a day at work!
Plan Your Day or Week
One of the fundamental steps to take to be more productive is planning ahead. Creating a to-do list, noting down your appointments in a diary, and keeping an easy-to-navigate schedule can help you free up your mind and avoid feeling excessively stressed or overwhelmed.
To save up time in the morning or while in the office, consider planning your day or week during your commute – so, you’ll have a clear understanding of what’s ahead and a strategy in place to maximize efficiency. Plus, planning ahead means that you’ll be ready to get started with your tasks straight away as you arrive at your office!
Write a Daily or Gratitude Journal
The time spent commuting can also be dedicated to looking after your mental and physical health. Writing a daily or gratitude journal can help you reduce your mental load and focus on the positive aspects of your life that you should be grateful about. You don’t need to write entire pages or chapters – a few lines each morning may be exactly what you need to find calm and mental wellbeing.
Catch Up on The News
There’s so much going on in the world today that reading the news can truly feel overwhelming. However, because of your job or personal interests, you may need to stay up to date with the latest developments. Fortunately, your commute is an excellent time to catch up on the news and digest everything that’s happened before getting to the office.
Conduct Business Calls or Meetings
If you are looking to optimize your time during some of the busiest periods of the year, you may consider the benefits of scheduling business calls or meetings during your commute. Although this should not be the rule, you can make exceptions to streamline the day ahead and conduct calls on your way to work. Be sure that your client is okay with an informal call conducted while on your commute!
Listen to Relaxing Music or Nature Sounds
If you have been feeling overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, your commute can be a day away from the hustle and bustle of your home and before getting into the office life. During this time, you can relax by listening to music and nature sounds, or enjoy meditation sessions and guided imagery. Make sure to find the best activity for your needs – or, mix it up!
Catch Up With Family and Friends
If you feel like there’s never enough time to catch up with your friend, sibling, or parents, you may consider leveraging your commuting time. Just sending them messages or audio notes instead of calling can be a great way to strengthen your relationships while on your way to work!
These are just some ideas of what you could be doing on your commute – but it all starts with changing your mindset: begin to think of this not as “wasted time” but as time you can use to optimize your health and productivity!
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