Whether you have a 30 minutes commute or a 60 minute commute, it’s a long time during your journey out of your day. You may end up reading the paper or a book, but is that really a productive way to start and end your working day? You can make your commute more useful, whether you’re driving or taking public transport. Here are six ideas to get you started.
Get Ahead With Work
While you don’t want to take your work home with you, you can get away with taking it on the commute. Use it to get ahead on email checking, or to get those designs ready for your boss.
You’ll look awesome in the office because you’re ready to show your boss as soon as he walks into the office at 9am. He’ll think you’re so dedicated that you do take your work home with you.
Learn Something New
Buy tapes to learn a new language, or listen to audio tracks to learn about a new search engine optimisation technique. There are so many things that you can learn while you’re on the commute.
If you’re able to read, do a distance learning course and pick up a new subject. Not only does learning something new give you something productive to do, it can also get you ahead in work and life.
Arrange Your Budget and Update It
Worried about your financial matters? Use the commute to work them out. Have your laptop open and start creating your budget. You can then update it while you travel, instead of waiting until you get home.
If everyone in the house does this before they get home, you get more time to spend with each other and chill out at the end of the day.
Practise Your Speech
Got a speech coming up? Practise it while on the move. If you’re driving, you can speak it out loud.
That will help you listen to the words and get the tempo right. Those travelling on public transport may not want to talk out loud. Read through your notes, or make sure all your documents are in order. It will help you get a little more prepared by the time you get to work.
Plan Your Meetings
Got meetings coming up? Instead of waiting until you get home, start planning them on the commute. You can even do this if you drive by using voice memos to track your thoughts.
You don’t need to go into a lot of detail, but some notes will give you a good starting point ready for when you can do all the major planning.
Let Yourself Relax
Some people just don’t take the time to relax. It may not sound productive, but it really is. You can unwind after a long day at work, or ease your mind before you get to the office.
Your brain needs the alone time. Enjoy your book or listen to music to really help yourself relax and stop worrying about everything happening in your life.