Make your commute to be productive

Getting to work daily can be hectic and tiresome at times, being it driving solo, using public transportation, or carpooling with friends and co-workers. Most people dread their daily commutes to be tiresome and it's easy to understand why. Who really wants to waste their precious time before and after working hours sitting idle in a car, bus, or train?

Moreover, commuting is unproductive and makes work itself more challenging everyday. Surveys show that commute length was negatively correlated with job satisfaction. In the survey, commute length was also found to be correlated with leisure-time satisfaction. In other words, the longer the commute, the less enjoyable people's time outside of work becomes.

But do employees really dislike their commute to work? About 40% of Americans would prefer to clean their toilets than commute to a physical office.

Congested cities make the feeling much worse due to traffic jams and wait times.

However, it doesn't have to be this way always. While commuting to work, you have the perfect opportunity to accomplish things and clear your head. To help you feel productive and proactive during those busy drives, train rides, and seemingly endless subway stops, here are the few productive things to do while commuting, to make the best use of time.

Read a book: Reading is a great way to make the most of your commuting time. You can catch up on your favorite book, a magazine or any article that you have been wishing to read.

Listen to podcasts: Choose interesting podcasts to keep you engaged throughout the ride. There are a variety of shows available on multiple topics, from comedies to scientific discussions.

Write a to-do list or journal: Use this quiet time to write down your thoughts, plans or goals. Pen down your plans for the day that may help you be more organized and productive.

Learn a new language: Commute time can be effectively utilized to learn a new language. You can download language learning apps to your phone and start your learning journey right away.

Plan your day ahead: Use this time to plan and prioritize your tasks, so that you can make the most of your day ahead.

Meditate: If you commute for a long time, you can try practicing meditation. It can help you relax, lower stress levels, reduce anxiety and enhance your concentration.

Listen to music: Play some soothing or upbeat music to uplift your mood and start your day on a positive note.

Prepare for upcoming meetings: Use this time to prepare for upcoming meetings, presentations, or any other work related tasks that you may have scheduled.

Complete simple tasks: Use these minutes to quickly reply to emails or organize your schedule, anything that does not require too much focus can be done on the commute.

Build network: Strike up a conversation with a fellow traveler, this can be a good opportunity to network or make connections with people in your industry.

Photo by Life Of Pix: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-standing-beside-red-train-21410/