Finding Time - The Commute
We all know there are just 24 hours in a day, and that’s the amount of time we have to get everything done. And sadly, while many of us wish for just an extra hour of two a day, without some interesting physics, that won’t happen any time soon. So we’re left with trying to maximize the time we have, and find extra pockets of time where we can.
One place I’ve been trying to find a little extra time each day is in my commute. It currently takes about 45 minutes to an hour each way, and I’m trying to make this time a little more productive.
Most days, I spend the majority of my trip to and from work on the bus, which gives me some freedom to get a few things done. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean I’m trying to always be working during my commute. I try to use this time to do things that help in small ways. Some days, it’s a matter of reading the night’s email on my Blackberry on the way in, so I know the lay of the land when I arrive, and maybe planning a few tasks or meetings for the day. Others, I’d rather listen to a podcast, maybe catching up on some news, music, or language lesson. Heading home it provides a good mental demarcation to help make the transition between work thoughts and home thoughts, and allows me to unwind before getting home.
If you’ve been trying to find a way to use this time on your commute, here are a few suggestions:
Write
With little more than a notebook and a pen, you can start on the next great novel, that paper for school, or your next blog post. Thus far, I’d say about half of my posts have gotten their first drafts in a notebook, not the computer.
Read
Read that book you’ve heard so much about, those articles for background, briefing notes for work or the newspaper. A half hour a day gives you quite a bit of reading time through the year.
Play a game
Sudoku, crosswords, video games, and more are all quite portable these days. This can be a great combination of having some fun and keeping your mind sharp. Plus, focusing on something new can help make the transition. If you’re worried about beating your high score in Meteos or improving your time on that fiendish Sudoku puzzle, you’re not still in that mental feedback loop about work.
Listen
Whether you’re enjoying some music, learning a language, or listening to an audiobook, this can be a great way to fill some time, and is also car friendly! (I wouldn’t recommend reading, writing or playing games if you’re behind the wheel.)
Sleep
Again, this is for the passengers out there, but if you can zone out for a quick 15 minute power nap, you can find yourself refreshed and ready for the jam-packed evening you’ve got ahead. If you find the bus kind of loud, consider something like Pzizz and some noise canceling or noise isolating headphones.
What else do you do to make the most of your commute and make the time pass a little quicker? Please let us know in the comments!
October 12th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
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