Let’s face it! That WFH setting was no less than a feather bed for tired hands. Especially for the ones that took long office commute hours, the remote setting was a blessing in disguise. However, the current post-COVID space is witnessing the return to on-site work in full swing. The prospect of returning to the office may be exciting in most ways, but dreading the travel time overweighs them all. Managing your travel time while becoming productive is the only way to not let your time get wasted. In this article, we’ll cover all about ways to make your daily commute to work productive.
10 Ways to Make Your Daily Commute To Work Productive
The average travel time to work is around 25.4 minutes. Moreover, the one-way travel time can shoot up to approximately 1- 2 hours in metro cities. While you may consider the commute a lost time, we assure you that’s not the case. Your daily commute can be made productive if you promise to follow some tips. Whether traveling by car, metro, bus, or any other transport, here are some suggestions to get you started.
Note: Don’t you worry, the list doesn’t incorporate the mindless TikTok and Instagram scrolling.
10 Ways to Make Your Daily Commute to Work Productive
Bored of long commute hours? Here’s what you can do to make it productive
1. Work on Your Daily or Weekly To-Do List
While this may sound like a far-fetched task, this can be achieved easily when you are on wheels. Lack of planning can be detrimental to professional, and personal growth whilst a little planning can go a long way in making your journey successful.
Amidst the packed schedules, it’s best to utilize the commute time to work on your daily or weekly goals. Keep a notebook and pen handy, or if you are a techie, you can easily make notes on your phone.
Strategize your daily goals, set a timetable, prepare a to-do list, and plan a productive week.
2. Take those ‘Missed Calls’
The grind of the 21st century has transformed humans into workplace bots. In the era of prioritizing corporate slavery, we often forget about the need to interact with our loved ones.
Well, to cross that out, you can catch up on calls and texts with your loved ones while on a commute.
Doing this may give you an instant lift, leaving you cheerful and energized for hours. After all, love is what keeps humans bound.
3. Give Yourself a Spiritual Boost
Time and again, humans succumb to excessive workplace burdens and end up destroying their mental health. The best way to combat a brain drain is to indulge in meditation.
You might think of it as an odd activity to do on a commute, but trust us! it is super easy. You must have observed that 90% of people on shared transport are either busy watching movies or scrolling through Reels. Meanwhile, you can close your eyes and give your brain its deserved ease.
Since meditation is proven to reduce stress, it will help you redirect thoughts toward a more positive mindset.
4. Treat Yourself To a Good Book
Missing your school and college days when reading a book was a routine? Probably it’s time to pull some books from the pile sitting on your shelf for years. Living in times of information overload, books can give you a much-needed boost of knowledge. And, there couldn’t be a better time to read than on your everyday travel journey. You can use the morning and evening travel time to read the book bit by bit and utilize the time. Choose your favorite book today, whether it’s a fiction or an industry-knowledge genre!
5. Stay Updated with the News
It’s often difficult to catch up with the latest happening in the world when you are in a 9-5 job. However, we cannot deny the importance of staying updated and keeping a tab of daily news.
If you struggle to keep up with the latest news updates, your daily travel time can come to the rescue. Add to your productivity and knowledge by skimming through the pages of a newspaper while on wheels, or for that matter, a basic news application in your smartphone can also do the job.
6. Hum to the Mild Tunes
It is a perfect way to add a little delight to your long commute hours. Psychologically speaking, music has the power to heal and inspire in the morning and relax at night. It helps to release excessive emotional baggage and control anxiety, reinforcing a positive long-term implication on individual growth. So, what are you waiting for?
Create a personal playlist and groove to what you love!
7. Listening to Audiobooks or Podcasts
Are you tired of listening to your old repetitive playlist and not in the mood to read a book? It’s time you should switch to audiobooks. To get the hang of listening while on the move, start with an audiobook or podcast of the genre of your choice.
You can listen to one or two episodes each day of your work or even finish a single chapter of an audiobook.
With the plethora of subjects offered, podcasts and audiobooks can prove to be highly productive and entertaining at the same time.
8. Catch Up on Your Professional Mailbox
Morning commute hours are ideal for a fresh start to your inbox activity. This particular tip works best for those who aren’t driving on their own and using public transport with good internet access.
Draft your routine emails, create meeting agendas, reply to marked conversations, and work on small tasks while on the go. This way, you can get some tasks off your plate and feel a little less burdened throughout the day.
9. Upskill Yourself
Upskilling is vital for both employers and employees alike. It is linked to improved productivity, enhanced performance, and increased retention rates. Whether you are an employer or employee, you should set aside some time to learn new skills. And, what better time could be when you are on the commute?
Make sure to brush up on your leadership, content writing, graphic designing, or coding skills to grow professionally.
10. Pause and Reflect
With the wrong notion of productivity in vogue, it’s important to devote yourself to the ‘me-time’ you deserve. Productivity does not mean constant grind, so much so that you play wrong with your mental and physical health. No matter how great your ideas and actions are, you should always find some time to evaluate and align your thought process.
Nonetheless, the commute can be an ideal hour to reflect critically on your well-being- to identify your areas of conflict and think about potential solutions. Try recording your thoughts because it will aid in keeping track of your progress.
Wrapping Up
The commute is inescapable. However, if utilized tactfully, it could help establish the much-needed ‘work-life balance’. Whether you drive or use public transport, these tips could be instrumental in achieving productivity, even if it means relieving your stress. Commuting back and forth can be hectic but if you leverage the commute time by doing something that can help you gain something or make you happy, the time isn’t wasted. So, gear up and use the commute time to be your productive self.
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