6 Ways to Make Your Commute More Productive

Whether you kick-start your morning squeezing onto a packed train or attempting to beat the rush hour traffic, commuting can feel like a huge waste of your time. What should be an eight hour working day can be transformed into a 10 or even 12 hour day if you have a hefty commute to contend with. Thankfully, there are ways to make your travel time as productive as possible and boost your mood in the process. Here are a few ways to do just that…

1. Listen to podcasts

If you work in an office, you probably spend a huge portion of your day staring at your screen. So instead of looking down at your phone for the duration of your commute, listen to podcasts instead. Obviously you’ll still need your phone for this, but once you’ve chosen your podcast of choice you can pop your phone in your pocket and stare out the window while making your brain bigger! Honestly, I’ve felt so much smarter since I started listening to podcasts on a regular basis and I’ve learnt tons of valuable lessons that others are probably paying thousands to learn at university.

I tend to download podcasts from individual blogs, but if you’re unsure where to start, I’d recommend downloading the app Stitcher. This is a great place to find a versatile mix of podcasts all in one place.

Here are just a few of my favourite podcasts:

• Keen to declutter your home and simplify your life? Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus aka ‘The Minimalists‘ have a fantastic series of podcasts dedicated to helping people kick consumerism to the curb and live on less. Having a good old fashioned clear-out can also be a great way of making some extra cash!
• Bloggers and aspiring entrepreneurs are likely to love these podcasts by Janet Murray. Equipped with extensive PR expertise, Janet’s created a selection of podcasts looking at everything from fearless self-promotion to whether or not it’s OK to work for free. I’ve learnt a lot from Janet and I’m hope you will too!
• If you’re a digital marketing enthusiast, these podcasts by Site Visibility are a great way to pass the time during your commute and expand your knowledge. Whether you want to learn more about the world of PPC or improve your content marketing tactics, this is the podcast for you.
• US-based personal finance bloggers Cait and Carrie joined forces to start their own podcast series Budgets and Cents. Their podcasts are packed full or tips looking at everything from side hustles to shopping bans.

2. Learn something

When you get home at the end of a long day, chances are you’re keen to put your feet up and binge watch Game of Thrones. The last thing you want to do is spend your precious free time studying! However, if you’re looking to get a promotion or switch careers entirely, you may need to learn a new skill or two in order to reach your goals. By using the time you spend travelling to boost your brain, you can switch off and unwind as soon as you get home.

3. Lose yourself in a TED talk

TED talks have to be one of my favourite ways to pass the time and expand my knowledge. With talks focussing on everything from science and technology to business and self-improvement, there really is something for everyone.

Here are just a few of my favourite TED talks:

• Here, Regina Hartley looks at why the best person for the job might not necessarily have the perfect CV
• In this TED talk Michael Green looks at how we can make the world a better place by 2030. He’s green by name, green by nature
• Struggling to decide what to do with your life? Well, according to Emilie Wapnick you might well be a “multipotentialite” - a person who doesn’t have just one true calling
• Armed with a great sense of humour, in this TED talk Michael Kimmel brilliantly explains why gender equality is good for everyone

4. Sort through your emails

I bet many of the emails you receive each week require little more than a short and snappy reply. However, when faced with a hectic workload, responding to these messages promptly can seem like a huge distraction.

If you commute by public transport rather than by car, spend your journey sorting through your emails. This can be a great way of you setting yourself up for a more productive day ahead.

Once you’re on top of your messages, why not use any additional commuting time to reach out and network with other people? Introducing yourself to influential people may seem scary, but one friendly email could be the start of a great project, working relationship, or even a new career.

5. Set yourself goals for the day

Whether you jot down your to-do list in a diary or embrace an online organisation tool such as Trello, commuting via public transport can be a great way of setting yourself some goals for the day ahead. While you’re at it, be sure to reflect on the day/week before to assess what went well and what you could improve on.

6. Blog

One of the best things about travelling by public transport is that you’re able to really switch off and let the mind wander. Day dreaming can be a great way of coming up with new ideas, so if you feel yourself overcome with inspiration, why not use this time to blog? If you don’t have a blog already, starting from scratch may seem daunting at first, but it can be a great way of passing the time, learning new skills and even making some extra cash!

If I get an idea for a blog post, I’ll write all my thoughts down in an email and send it to myself. Sometimes I’ll get so carried away that the blog post will be finished by the end of my journey.

How do you spend your commute? I’d love to know what you do to make the most of your journey to and from work. Get in touch in the comments below, tweet me @CantSwingACat, or send an email to [email protected].