A few years ago, when I graduated university, I planned my move out of my parents’ house with the start of my first corporate job. My boyfriend (now husband) and I rented a place within walking distance of my office and the local transit station. And I have to admit, it was an awesome decision. We’re natural suburbanites — we love a quiet community with local parks and restaurants far more than the hustle and bustle of the downtown core. The best part was knowing that after a late night at the office, I could be home in twenty-five minutes by foot, or five minutes flat by car. But all of that changed a year ago, when my office moved to downtown Toronto. Suddenly I had a work commute to contend with.
I hadn’t expected to start spending an extra ninety minutes of my day in transit, but I also knew I didn’t want to waste those minutes. I’ve noticed in my year of taking the train to work that the majority of commuters spend that time sleeping, scrolling through social media, or staring out the window. I knew I could do better. It definitely took some trial and error, but my commute is far more productive now than when I first began! Here are some great options to try out if you want to make the most of your commute.
Get More Sleep
No, I don’t mean on the train! The first step to an efficient morning commute is being awake enough to take advantage of it. In my first few months of commuting, despite my desire to read more books, I could barely keep my eyes open for long enough to get through a page. In my case, getting more sleep simply means going to bed earlier. My day already starts at 5:30am! So lately I’ve been focusing on getting to bed by 10:30pm at the latest. Honestly, I haven’t been super consistent, but it’s still had a great impact on my productivity and mood throughout the day.
Tap into Uplifting Audio
Lots of people listen to music or the radio while commuting, whether they’re driving or taking transit. However, you can easily step up your work commute efficiency with a favourite podcast or audiobook. Shake things up with a combination of educational content and pure entertainment! If you don’t an audiobook subscription, check your local library for free options. I use Hoopla and Libby for free just by signing in with my library card. On the podcast front, I’m currently listening to personal development (check out Earn Your Happy and Your Kick-Ass Life) and personal finance (Mo’ Money Podcast for a Canadian perspective).
Meditate
If you’re working on cultivating a positive daily ritual to support your mental health, your public transit commute might be the perfect opportunity. I find that using a meditation app like Headspace on the train is totally indiscernible. So many people are napping anyway! Sure, it’s a bit more distracting than a quiet space at home. But your work commute is a great option if you need a few minutes to de-stress on your way to the office.
Write a Novel
I’m only half joking here! I wrote over half of my National Novel Writing Month manuscript last year on the GO Train. But in all seriousness, you can use your commute to work on your creative passion projects and side hustles. Will people read over your shoulder on the train? Maybe — but feel free to write really weird stuff so they’ll leave you alone! Honestly, though, you can just get a privacy screen or use really small font. Other creative commuting options I’ve seen include knitting, journalling, and puzzle solving. If you’re driving, you can even record your voice on your phone and make the most of that creative energy. (If it helps, I wrote this entire post on the train to and from work!)
Reevaluate Your Work Commute
Maybe the idea of travelling to work each day sends you into a tailspin of anxiety. If so, it might be time to take a second look at the circumstances surrounding your daily routine. Could you take transit instead of driving? Could you take a less stressful route to work, even if the commute is a little bit longer? Or could it be time to move closer to your office, work from home more often, or even consider changing jobs altogether? Dive into the deeper thoughts you have surrounding your work commute, and you might find that other changes are in order as well.
Do you have a long work commute? Share your tips for making the most of your time in transit in the comments below!
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