Commuting to and from work can quickly get repetitive. By exploring different ways to occupy your commute, you can stop it from becoming a tedious process, and instead turn it into an entertaining or productive part of your day that you look forward to. In this post, we’ll look beyond some of the obvious ways to spend your commute (such as reading a book or catching up on emails) and instead delve into a few more unusual solutions. Most of these only apply if you are commuting by public transport, but some may also be relevant to those driving to and from work.
Learn a new language
If you’ve ever wanted to learn a new language, your commute could potentially be the best time to start learning. By downloading a language learning app like Duolingo or Babbel, you can start teaching yourself words and phrases on your journey through videos, explanations and quizzes. It’s also possible to learn a language while driving by looking into foreign language audio lessons and podcasts. Not every commute has to be spent learning a language – you could simply pick a couple days per week to do it.
Play chess/checkers
Chess and checkers are great games for exercising your brain. Nowadays, you don’t need another player and a physical board to play – you can play both games online via sites or apps against a computer. Chess games are great for long morning commutes, helping you to get your brain engaged for the day ahead. Checkers games can be completed much more quickly, and may be better for shorter commutes. It’s worth noting that there are so many other traditional games that can be played digitally ranging from solitaire to Scrabble.
Make yourself a barista-level coffee
Instead of buying coffees to take on your bus or train journey, why not make your own coffee? No, you don’t have to settle for home-brewed coffee in a flask – you can make your own coffee during your commute using a portable espresso coffee machine. Some of these machines are bean-to-cup, allowing you to grind beans, heat water and pour yourself a cup all in one device. Others use pods for convenience, while also allowing you to experiment with different flavors. It’s a must-have gadget for any coffee fanatic.
Crochet a blanket
There may be certain crafts that you are able to occupy your commute with, provided you’re able to find yourself a seat and are not driving. Crocheting is a popular craft that can be very therapeutic on a long journey. Set yourself the challenge of crocheting a blanket over a week, or try making other creations like scarves and hats. It may also be possible to practice other crafts like knitting or cross-stitching.
Draft/write a novel
Ever wanted to write your own novel? A long commute could be a great opportunity to get stuck in – you could aim to write a chapter a week. If you need a bit more concentration to write, then you could still use your commute as an opportunity to draft ideas, saving you time later when writing. Other creative writing tasks such as writing poems or blogging may also be productive ways to occupy a commute. Bring your laptop or get yourself a bluetooth keyboard if you don’t like using a smartphone or tablet touchscreen to write.
Travel the world (virtually)
Your commute could be a time for escapism and an opportunity to learn about the world. You may not always have enough vacation time to see all the places you want around the world, but you can still explore many of these places virtually. Google Earth is an excellent tool for exploring and researching locations around the world. It’s also possible to take virtual tours of various international landmarks and museums online. Still not sure this beats the real thing? Your commute could alternatively be an opportunity to plan future travels – you can plan out travel itineraries, research hotels and even shop around for flights.
Make money answering surveys
What if you could make extra money during your commute? Paid survey sites and apps can allow you to earn some additional cash simply by answering questions about yourself. Don’t expect to make a huge amount of money per survey – however it could be an extra little something to top up your income. Examples of popular paid survey sites include Swagbucks and Inbox Dollars.
Digitally declutter
Not all clutter is physical. In today’s digital age, many of us are accumulating increasing amounts of digital clutter such as masses of unread emails, huge libraries of photos that take storage space and excess apps. Your commute could be an opportunity to trim some of this clutter down. You could even organize an annual spring clean of your digital devices which could be completed in one week per year on your commute. Beyond deleting files and apps, think about how you can also reorganize your digital devices to be more orderly and efficient.
Discover new music decade by decade
Listening to music is a popular way to spend one’s commute. But instead of listening to the same playlists again and again, why not turn it into an opportunity to discover new music. One day every week, you could dive into a new decade and listen to an acclaimed album you’ve been meaning to hear or check out artists you’re not overly familiar with. Over a few weeks you’ll be surprised how much your musical knowledge grows, plus you’ll find some amazing new music.
Reconnect with old friends
Your commute could also be an opportunity to reconnect with old friends that you’ve been meaning to get in touch with. Once per week, you could try messaging a past friend or a family member who you haven’t spoken to in a while. Even if you’re both too busy to plan a date to meet up, you could use the opportunity to catch up with each other’s lives. Use social media apps to get in touch if you haven’t got their phone number.
