7 Productive Things to Do on Your Commute

I hereby declare myself the Queen of Long Commutes. Long commutes to school and work are all I've ever known, except for my short stint living mid-town Toronto last summer in which I had a less than 30 minute commute to work. To be honest, it was great, but I could barely get in any of my commute-worthy activities that I worked so hard to perfect over the years.. what a problem to have.

I've moved to the east end, and now my commute is between 45 minutes and 1 hour. I am actually thankful for the time because I squeeze in some things I otherwise wouldn't make or find time for in my busy days. I take the TTC subway, so I have to compete with the no-service factor.. challenge accepted. Here is what I do to stay productive on my commmutes: 

Netflix download function

Whether you have service on your commute or not, the Netflix download function might be the best thing since Chipotle burrito bowls. I typically save shows for my commutes home when my brain is fried and I just want to relax. Right now I am making my way through Wild Wild Country; I'm only a few episodes in and at the point where I want to start calling myself Ama Anand Lynn, but I have a sneaking suspicion that will change soon.. 

Tidy up your phone

This is a good time to delete and sort emails, delete pictures and screenshots (you know, those bad ones you don't want anyone to see), rearrange widgets, make folders, change your lock/home screen image etc. 

Make your daily To-Do List

Get started on the right foot by creating your to do list for the day before you even get to work. Having some un-interrupted time to really map out what you want to accomplish can go a long way. I find if I leave creating my to-do lists for when I get to work, I get easily distracted and start DOING something I've written down before I even complete my list. 

Podcasts

In my opinion, the best one's for the morning commutes are from the Business, Health & Wellness, or Comedy categories in my A Podcast for Everyone post. They can truly set the tone for your day. The business ones inspire and motivate me for the day ahead, and I will actively take notes on my phone if anything jumps out at me. The best ones for on the way home are True Crime or Comedy when I am vegging out and winding down. 

Read the newspaper

They still exist! And it is content unfiltered by you, so you’ll get some information you otherwise might not. Also, crosswords or sudokus in the paper are a great way to pass time and give your brain a little exercise before your day begins. I get crossword shy though.. there's so much pressure to perform when there's someone sneakily looking at your every vertical and horizontal move!

Read a book

Self explanatory, I think. Right now I’m reading Mindhunter. There's a show on Netflix inspired by this book/true story, and I recommend it as well (it's downloadable)! 

Think and self-reflect

This might be one of the few moments in your day where you don't have to speak to anyone and can be completely in your zone (especially if you don't have service to receive texts, snapchats, or calls). Pop in your earbuds, put on some music, and do some thinking and self-reflecting. Scary, I know. I do this one the least, but sometimes it's so needed and so necessary. 

Et voila, commutes don't HAVE to be annoying and time-wasting. There are even some days when I look FORWARD to my commute. Ok people, have fun being productive!

Lynn M.