How to Have a Productive Commute

There just aren’t enough hours in the day to allow us to accomplish everything on our list. It’s frustrating to have a long commute to and from your job and to know that those hours are wasted time. Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you could be productive during your commute and get more done in your day? Here are some steps that you can follow to use your commute time wisely.

Things You'll Need

• Language learning CD
• Books on CD
• Hands-free cell phone device

Instructions

1. Learn a foreign language. Driving alone in the car is a perfect opportunity to listen to a language learning CD and become fluent in another language. Being bilingual is a highly sought after job skill that could help you earn that big promotion you’ve been dreaming about.

2. Listen to books on CD. Commuting is a great time to pop in a CD and listen to one of the latest business books. These books will inspire you and give you lots of ideas for how to perform your job at a higher level.

3. Converse on your cell phone. Commuting time could be used to join a conference call, listen to your work voicemail, or catch up on calls that you need to make. Use a hands-free device so that you can drive safely while you carry on a conversation.

4. Read your email. If your commute involves some time on a train or a bus, then boot up your laptop and use the idle time to catch up on your email. If you drive to work, there are services to which you can subscribe that will read your email out loud to you, so that you can drive and listen to your email. This will enable you to have a head start on your day when you get to the office.

5. Catch up on your reading. If you ride a train or a bus, then you could spend your commute time reading business-related magazines or professional journals. You will learn about all of the latest business trends and be armed with powerful information that will benefit you in your professional life.

6. Listen to a CD of relaxing music or nature sounds, and use your commute time to meditate on peaceful thoughts. By the time you get to work you will be relaxed, refreshed and ready to face the day. If you are driving, keep your eyes open and focused on the road. Drivers must remain alert at all times in order to react quickly to changing traffic conditions.

Tips & Warnings

• Take care when multi-tasking in the car. Distracted drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident than someone who is strictly focused on driving.

Resources

• Download free audiobooks here.
• Purchase language learning CDs here.