How to Make a Train Commute More Enjoyable

In an effort to save money on commuting costs and reduce their carbon footprints, more and more Americans are turning to public transportation to get to work. While taking the train cuts down on frustrations like traffic jams and crazy drivers, the commuter rail offers its own brand of annoyances—noisy passengers, overcrowded trains and long commutes, to name a few.Luckily, there's plenty you can do to keep yourself occupied, since you're not worrying about driving.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Music
• Books
• Magazines
• Puzzles

1. Listen to music. Peak-hour train commutes can be noisy, thanks to the sound of the train and other commuters not using their "inside voices" when having conversations or talking on their cell phones. Get an MP3 player or an iPod (or a Walkman if you're old-school) and a good pair of earphones, and load it with your favorite music.

2. Read. Make friends with your local librarian and check out new reading material once a week. Read for business or read for pleasure—whatever floats your boat. A good book can make a long train commute fly by, and some commutes are just long enough for passengers to read a magazine or the daily paper.

3. Try puzzles to make the trip more enjoyable. Crossword puzzles and Sudoku are two popular ways to pass the time.

4. Work. If you're the type who always has some work to bring home from the office, try to get some of it done on the train. Commuter trains are full of passengers reading over memos or typing away on their laptops. Added bonus: The more work you get done on the train, the more time you have to relax once you get home.

5. Sleep. Napping is a popular pastime on commuter rails, and it's something you definitely couldn't do if you drove to work every day. Listen to soothing music, get as comfortable as you can and close your eyes. Even if you can't fall asleep completely, resting with your eyes closed on the way to and from work can help you feel much more rested after you get off the train.

Tips & Warnings

• Some companies offer a benefit to commuters who use mass transit, allowing you to deduct a certain amount of your pre-tax dollars to pay for a portion of your commuting costs.
• Beware of oversleeping if you nap on the train. If you're not the type to automatically wake up just before your stop, be sure to have a way to wake yourself up at the right time. A popular method is setting your cell-phone alarm for a few minutes before your scheduled stop, putting the phone on vibrate and then placing the phone in your pocket or somewhere else where you'll feel it when it goes off.

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