Commuting! It’s one of the most common examples people mention as something they “waste time” doing. You’re also often not compensated for that time, so it’s your “free time” you’re spending. Do you feel like you spend it wisely?

According to Lifehack, researchers found that each minute spent on commuting is identified with a 0.0257-minute exercise time reduction, a 0.0387-minute food preparation time reduction, and a 0.2205-minute sleep time reduction. In simple terms it means the longer the commute, the higher the likelihood:
1) you won’t exercise as often or as intensely as you should,
2) you’ll grab quicker/unhealthier food instead of preparing something healthy or making smart choices, and
3) you won’t sleep as much as you should or need.

Also, your time spent commuting has value. It’s your free time, your “personal time”. If you’ve lost track of exactly what the value of your personal time is worth, jump back and read my blog post, Your Time Has a Specific ‘$/hr’ value. Plug your personal numbers into the calculators for an estimate the actual value of your time. How much is your commute “costing” you in time?

Eliminating your commute isn’t an option. How could you improve it? Make it more productive? Here are a bunch of ideas for you to consider:

• Commuters that walked, cycled, or took Commuter Rail had slightly higher satisfaction scores about their commute in this article at citylab.com. Could you vary your method of commute?

• Could you work from home? Avoid the commute some of the time?

  If you can work from home, even 1 day per week, you’ll get that free time back for that day. How would you use that extra time?

• Consistency is more important than amount of time according to that same article above. These are the situations often where riding trains causes more satisfaction than driving. If you know it will consistently take 45 minutes door to door every commute with a 5 min variation, survey participants were much more satisfied with that, and experienced less frustration and stress than a different commuting option that might only take 35 minutes on a good day, but could go up to an hour with no consistency (a 25 minute variation). It’s unpredictability that frustrates people the most.

• Include a stop along the way. Stop to work out. Grab some coffee. Go for a walk in the park to decompress before you get home. Doesn’t have to be a long stop, something quick that you feel makes you a better person.

• Change your clothes. Or even just your shoes. Are you one of those people who doesn’t really feel home or relaxed until you get out of those work clothes? Why don’t you go ahead and get comfortable? It may relax you, and put you in a better mood.

• Options where you don’t have to drive. Trains, busses, rideshare services like uber/lyft, and carpooling are often a way for you to be productive while you're on the way to/from work. In addition to lessening your carbon footprint and saving gas money, these options may also opens up time to actually do activities which may help you feel the time is more productive or bring you joy. Ideas like:

  • Read a book. There’s a bunch of reading you’ve been meaning to do. Do some of that!

  • Listen to audiobooks & podcasts.
    Hot tip: listen at 2x-3x speed, as fast as is comfortable for you. Your brain can handle 3x speed, try working up to it!

  • Catch up on the news.

  • Reply to emails.

  • Learn a language. (through language podcasts, or an app like Duolingo on your phone),

  • Catch up with friends. You could even try commuting with one.

  • Discover different music you’ll love. Popular apps which are free/ad-supported like Pandora and Spotify have playlists to help you find new songs you’ll potentially love.

  • Keep a journal.

  • Write down daily appreciations. Every commute, write down 5 things you’re grateful for or appreciate. Help change your mindset to a positive one.

Unless you can eliminate your commute, take some steps to make it better. It’s your time you’re spending after all. Improve the way you choose to spend it!

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I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that I was going to have a harder life that was likely 10-20 years shorter than normal. I’ve lived my best life every day since then, because you only get one chance to live it. I created Productivity Gladiator because I saw what a difference it made to share small and specific actions you can take right now, right away, to achieve better work life balance, be more productive, and live your best life right now, today, not wait until retirement. It brings me joy to share this passion with you.