There are lots of things you can do on a bus or train to actually make good use of the time, whether you want to spend it relaxing and entertaining yourself, or doing something that helps you move closer to your personal goals.
Here are a few ideas for good ways to use your commute time:
Work Through a List of Books
Some people really enjoy reading but don’t have much time to do it, whereas others don’t necessarily class it as a favourite hobby but would still like to have read all the books people are talking about so they don’t feel like they are missing out. Reading is a great way to keep yourself amused on the bus or train because you can do it standing up, and of course, if you are reading a physical book rather than an eBook you also don’t have to worry about your batteries dying! Rather than just picking up any old book at the station, why not find a good list of must reads that appeal to you and work your way through them over months of commuting? Or, pick a series of very popular books like Harry Potter or A Song of Ice And Fire and read the whole thing!
Play Games
If you want to do something relaxing but engaging which will help you switch your mind out of ‘work mode’ on the way home or wake you up during your morning commute, then playing games can be a good way to make use of the time. Whether you choose playing online bingo or poker on your phone or tablet to try and win money, playing puzzle games that keep your brain working, or using a portable console like a PS Vita to play ‘proper’ video games, it is easy to play while you travel.
Work
If you don’t like the idea of that time you spend going to and from work being unproductive in terms of your working day, look for ways you can get some work tasks done on the train. If you have a seat and can get your laptop out, you can effectively work as normal, especially if you carry around a 3G modem so you can connect your laptop to the internet while you are travelling. Alternatively, if you only have your phone to work with, you can start replying to emails, checking your meeting schedule, and getting ready for the day or even do some work on documents or spreadsheets using mobile office apps. Another way to spend the commute if you want to do something work related is to read industry news and blogs, as a way to keep up to date on what is happening in your own industry and in rival businesses.
Study Something
if you want to do something productive but don’t really like the idea of doing extra work on your commute, then try learning something you are interested in outside of your professional life. You can find apps to help you with all kinds of things, from learning a foreign language to bettering your math skills. You can also find non-fiction books you can use to learn about things, whether you want to know more about managing your personal finances or would like to become a better cook! Studying something that interests you can be refreshing and can help you feel like you are getting something important out of the time you spend commuting each day. If you want to, you can even enrol on a distance learning course and study towards actual qualifications while you are commuting.
These are just a few of the ways you can make your commute interesting and make the time pass quickly. Whether you want to feel entertained or enlightened at the end of your journey, there are always things you can use to keep your mind occupied when you have a reasonably long bus or train journey every morning and evening.
