For most busy professionals, the commute is a necessary evil. If you don’t have the privilege of remotely (from home), the commute is a pocket of time between home and work that’s usually filled with frustration, traffic, or a numb scroll through your phone. But what if we told you that those in between hours could become the most productive, or at least most enjoyable part of your day?
Whether you ride a train, bus, ferry or drive solo, commuting time can be transformed from wasted to well spent with the right mindset and the right activities. You might be slightly more limited if you’re driving, but still, from self-care to self-improvement, we’ve put together 15 solid tips for busy commuters to use their time wisely.
1. Play a Game
Even the simplest of games can offer quick cognitive refreshment, and if you’re stuck on a train, then playing spider solitaire or crossword puzzles can really help to keep you mentally active. You don’t want to fall asleep with your head against the window that 1000 other commuters have leaned against. Games are useful if you’re not in the mood for content consumption, but you still want stimulation. Keep the screen brightness low and the volume off if you’re not wearing headphones because nobody wants to hear your app notifications or sound. If you’re thinking of taking a break from the usual stress, even playing a quick game like Spider Solitaire that we mentioned earlier can offer a peaceful reset to start or end your day.
2. Choose a New Podcast
This activity is great for drivers because you can listen to a podcast while you drive. You can turn your vehicle or your seat into a personal university. Podcasts can be either entertaining or educational or even both. The beauty of podcasts lies in their versatility. There are 10-minute motivational boosts or 90 minute deep dives into geopolitics. You can start your week with thought leaders in your industry or end your Friday with a comedy podcast that makes the ride home much lighter. There are plenty of apps out there for you to choose a podcast and help you to organise your playlist so that all you need to do is plug into the car and press play. You can download episodes in advance too, so that you don’t have to rely on spotty service underground or in remote areas.
3. Create a Daily Audio Journal
Audio journaling is very similar to writing journaling, except you’re doing it with your voice. It doesn’t have to be profound, it’s just an honest reflection of your day. You can say what’s on your mind. You can vent about your boss. It’s like having an argument in the shower where you know you’re going to win because you’re the dictator of the argument. You can use the time to reflect on conversations or set your intentions, and over time, those recordings become a form of therapy. It can even end up being a personal growth archive for you. It allows you to track how your mindset has shifted over weeks or months.
4. Work on Learning a New Language
Language learning during your commute turns idle time into cultural exploration, and you don’t even have to get off the train. If you drive, focus on audio-based apps which use repetition and speaking queues. If you’re on public transport, you can practice vocabulary or interact with in app exercises. You can make it fun by assigning yourself small goals. Ordering coffees in your target language by the end of the month or understanding a foreign song’s lyrics.
5. Put Together a Killer Playlist
Music has the power to shift your emotional state, and if you’re commuting very early in the morning or you’re getting home late at night, it’s easier to do that when you can bop along to your favorite tunes. There are services like Spotify that even offer commute mixes tailored to your texts. Revisit some old favorites or explore global hits, but just don’t forget not to dance on the actual train.
6. Catch Up on an Audio Book
Audiobooks allow you to read while keeping your eyes on the road or out the window. Having somebody read to you can make all the difference to your experience of immersing yourself in your favorite content. Rotate between fiction and nonfiction to keep things interesting and use narration speed controls to suit your energy level. Many libraries can offer free audio books through Hoopla or Libby, and that means that you can keep an eye on your budget while you keep an ear on your favorite book.
7. Practice Mindful Breathing
You can start with just five breaths, inhaling them for four counts, holding for four, and exhaling for four. This box breathing technique is used by Navy Seals to calm the nervous system. You don’t need to close your eyes; you just need to anchor your attention. Regular practice can reduce blood pressure and boost focus for the day ahead, which can really help when you know that you’re on your way to the office.
8. Prepare For Your Day
Instead of allowing stress to creep in with an early look at emails, use this time to visualize success for the day. Imagine how your meetings could go, your conversations may be handled or even that awkward water cooler moment. Mental rehearsal is used by athletes and performers for a good reason. It works to build confidence and with this, alongside mantras of all affirmations that tell yourself that you can handle challenges calmly and clearly, you can anchor your mindset to the day ahead.
09. Use the Time to Plan
Commuting offers just enough quiet to plan without distraction. Think through your meals for the week, check your fridge remotely via smart apps, or brainstorm grocery lists. Alternatively, review your weekly spending or budget categories to start working out what you regularly spend. It turns passive minutes into proactive planning, which allows you to avoid last minute decisions or impulse purchases, which are very easy to do when you’re hungry.
10. Use the Time to Stretch if Possible
Seated stretches can dramatically improve your circulation and reduce muscle tension, especially in your shoulders. If the train isn’t too packed, try shoulder rolls or wrist circles, ankle pumps or gentle spinal twists. Even a driver at a red light can do many stretches, like shoulder shrugs or jaw relaxation. These little micro movements can help to combat the stiffness and the stress of the day.
11. Start Writing Down Your Thoughts
If you’re stuck on a train to work and you’ve been in a tunnel for a while, start writing down some thoughts that pop into your head. It could be thoughts from the day ahead where you’re planning what you’re going to do in your meetings, or it could be thoughts that think about what you might have for dinner that night. Whatever you’re doing, tap them out onto your phone or write them down on a notepad. Any thought that floats through your head, write it down.
12. Practice Gratitude
It’s a proven mental health booster, did you know that? On your ride into work, name 5 things you’re thankful for, from your morning coffee to a supportive partner or that one funny coworker you’re excited to see. You can say it aloud, think it silently, or jot it down in an app. This simple act redirects your focus away from stress and towards abundance.
13. Connect With Friends
Busy professionals often neglect personal relationships. Use the commute time to reconnect with your friends with a 5-minute check in call, a funny voice note, or share a playlist. If you know your friends are also commuting to work, send them a message to acknowledge the fact that you’re both in the same packed train situation. If you’re on public transport, consider texting a voice note instead of calling.
14. Consume Mini Courses
Education can be a part of your commute. Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or Skillshare offer short forms courses that can fit into a 20-minute ride. These topics range from digital marketing to photography to productivity. Some apps allow you to download content or listen to audio only so you’re not burning through your data. Turn your commute into a slow but steady upskilling journey that pays dividends over time and could earn you more money.
15. Do Nothing
If you’ve got a busy commute ahead, you don’t have to do anything at all. This may be the most radical of all the suggestions. Don’t feel guilty for staring at the window. People watch. Look at the leaves as they fly past the window. Some of the best ideas arrive when your brain isn’t actively focused on something, allowing yourself to Daydream and observe your surroundings. Choosing to exist without doing or producing is more powerful than you think.