A long commute can be grueling! Unfortunately, I am in expert in them. On any given day I am in the car for at least 3-4 hours. I cover about thirty different locations spanning three counties so there is a TON of driving in my day. It’s important to note that we are not talking carefree back-road country driving, I’m talking city bumper to bumper stressful driving.
My pain is your gain! Luckily, I have been able to perfect the art of the commute. If you follow these strategies not only will your commute be less gruesome, but it will actually be a productive & enjoyable time of your day.
5 Ways to Make the Most of a Long Commute
- Waze– This was a total game changer for me. Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app. I have tried different navigation apps but this is by far the best in my experience. Waze factors in current driving conditions when determining the best route for you. Users can even alert you to speed traps (not that I ever speed or anything). It has saved me literally HOURS of time each month. The best part is that the app is free. Head over to Google Play or the App Store to download.
- Phone Calls– I am very strategic with my follow-up calls and conference calls. I try to schedule as many calls as I can during my commute hours so I can kill two birds with one stone. Added bonus, being engrossed in conversation will help make the drive fly by! It is also much easier to focus because you are not tempted to multi-task while you are talking. Win-win!
- Podcasts– I am a HUGE fan of podcasts. They are free and come packed with a ton of information in an entertaining format. Whatever your interest, they have a podcast for it. Right now, I am totally into Side Hustle School with Chris Guillebeau. It is a short 10 minute or so podcast that highlights various people’s side hustles. I love hearing all of the ideas and strategies that are showcased from the listeners. In fact, it helped inspire me to start this blog. You can check out podcasts via the Podcast App on iPhones. Android users can download an app to listen to their favorite Podcasts. Check out the article titled “10 Best Podcast Apps for Androids” by Joe Hindy for a review on the top apps.
- Audiobooks- I’m also a big fan of audiobooks. Using an app like Audible helps you find audiobooks that fit your interests. (A quick note on Audible- if you are an Amazon prime user you get free access to Channels which a collection of talk-show like content on various themes). Another great place to find audiobooks is through your public library. Many of them offer audiobook CDs or a virtual library where you can download them.
- Mindfulness– We live in a crazy, busy, hectic world. What better time to practice mindfulness than when you are captive in your car. Take this time to just sit still for a moment. Reflect on your day. Open the window and feel the warm breeze. Be fully present. Try to enjoy the time to yourself. I’m totally not good at this but I find myself getting better each time I try.
What strategies do you use to make the best of your commute? Share in the comments, we would love to hear!
I am glad the my commute consists of going to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee 🙂
That is amazing! Good for you!
I love audio books and podcasts! Time in the car is the best time to learn new things and take advantage of the alone time.
Love them! I just started listening to them this year, I can’t believe I went so long without them. They make the commute go by faster as well. Thank you so much for reading!