The Power of Commuting (PLUS infographic)
The Power of Commuting
Make the best out of your daily commute
By Nadja Conaghan
The average distance Australians daily travel from their homes to work is 16 km (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018). In other words, we spend a lot of time on the train, bus or in the car on a daily basis.
Do you love or dislike the daily commute to and from work? Some of us hate commuting and find it a waste of time and very stressful at times. I find commuting quite the opposite – for me it is a valuable time and helps me to de-stress, reflect and recharge. It is my time and sometimes the only “me time” I have – so why not making the best out of it?
It is your mindset and your actions that either make commute a great experience or a hassle. In other words, it is up to you if you make it a blessing or a nightmare.
Here are my personal favourite ways to get the best out of my daily commute to and from work.
#1 Time to learn and grow
Working full-time and studying at the same time can be very stressful and time consuming. When I found myself in this situation, I used the time on the train to read papers and textbooks, and even wrote a few assignments. I got so much stuff done and didn’t get distracted. Knowing that you have a fixed amount of time helped me to stay focused and develop a daily routine of studying.
Nowadays, I do not study for exams and assignments anymore, but I still like to use my time to learn something new and grow. I love to read books, articles and interesting blogs. There are fantastic online articles on LinkedIn or Facebook. Maybe subscribe to a blog or online magazine to learn more about an interesting topics or stay up to date in the area of your interest. When I don’t feel like reading but still want to be inspired and learn something new, I love to watch a short TED Talk (they are usually around 12 min).
You don’t like to read or are driving? What about listening to podcasts or audiobooks? Nowadays, there are podcasts for every topic you can imagine. Get your headphones out and give it a go.
Widen your horizon and spending time to educate yourself is rewarding and will feel like a valuable time spent.
#2 Time to reflect and be grateful
I find time on a daily commute is a good opportunity to reflect. You can reflect on the day just pasted or plan for what comes. Some people master reflecting in their head and without any guides. If you are like me and tend to daydream or hang onto thoughts, you can take some notes in a journal with guided questions and limited lines to write. The 5 minute journal – part of Tim Ferriss’ morning routine – is a great guide and can help you to reflect and set your mindset for the day ahead.
Before I discovered the 5 min journal, I also used to write daily gratitude diaries (some call it gratitude journal), especially when I went through rough times at work or in my personal life. It helped me to clearly see the positive things in my life and see what really is important and what is just distracting temporary noise. With some practice, I was able to see the positive in what I could have perceived as “all bad” and recognised the opportunity to grow and realised my own strength and resilience to overcome these periods. I will admit that it takes a bit of practice if you are not used to it (here are some tips). For me it paid off as I re-programmed myself to be positive (or less negative) and see the good things in life and be kinder to myself and others.
Take the time to pause, reflect and be grateful.
#3 Time to reconnect with people
My family and many friends live overseas and I do not see them as often as I wish to. On the train, I like to connect with my family via our Family chat - sharing funny pictures, thoughts or good stories. It makes me happy and feel loved when I make time for and connect with people that are important to me. Even if it is just a 5 or 10 minute conversation, I feel no longer alone and feel instantly happy.
Why not use the time on the train to make dinner plans with friends or to organize a puppy walk or catch up with like-minded people, after a good or stressful day? Is there a better way to finish the day?
Connect with the people in you life that you care for.
#4 time for mindfulness
Part of winding down after a busy and exhausting day at work, is my daily mindfulness routine that helps me to be in the here and now, let go and start to relax.
If you are new to mindfulness, you can download apps like headspace or smilingmind that guide you through different exercises. I personally use the smilingmind app a bit more often these days as I can pick from different exercises based on my needs.
Some of my favourite mindfulness exercises were introduced to me by my inspiring and knowledgeable teachers and mentors Dr John and Dr Judy Hinwood from Stress to Strength. Check out their youtube channel to see a few examples. Or write your own mindfulness scripts and record yourself to have your own personalised guided meditation. With some practice, you will no longer need the recording and you can do the exercise in your head and can relax and recharge in a few minutes.
Another concept that I used to practice for short commutes is the third space. If you want know more about it, check out Dr Adam Fraser’s website where you can find a short video. In a nutshell, the third space is the safe transition space from one space to another (e.g. one space being work and you want to transition to your home life). In the third space, you follow three steps: 1. Reflect, 2. Rest and then 3. Reset.
Mindfulness takes some practise and you will find that some days you will be able to relax instantly and other days you will hang onto thoughts which is okay. Mindfulness is not a competition. It is a way to become “aware” of the moment.
Pause and be aware of the now.
#5 Time to rest and nap
Okay. Yes, I will admit that at times I am the one on the train who closes their eyes and just has a nap. The power of sleep is undeniable. I feel relaxed, rested and energized.
Have a restful power nap when you need it.
Click here to download your free infographic with 5 tips to make the commute the best.
In a nutshell
No matter how you choose to spend your time – make it a valuable and pleasurable experience. I invite you to try one or more strategies and try it for 30 days.