List o’ 10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Daily Commute

A casual and easy list on some fun and interesting ways to help make some use of your time spent traveling to work on the bus. If you do not commute then (a) use anything on this list to perhaps make good use of spare time during the day, and (b) all commuters hate you !! (just kidding – they’re only jealous)

10.Write Something

Write some letters, notes� or to-do list of those things that usually slip your mind, write your memoirs. If you are ambitious or have a particularly long commute, try a bigger project – a few pages a day can add up quickly, you might even end up with a book in the process.

9. Learn Something New

There is no shortage of material or access. There are resources and information available on just about anything you could want that are readily available via your iPod, PSP, or other portable device. Stock up on free-to-download audio or video tutorials, podcasts or e-books.

8. Do Some Anthropology

Become a human recorder. Society is all around you during an urban commute. Create a free blog at LiveJournal.com or Blogger.com and give it a catchy name. Practice writing about what you see and hear daily.

7. Exercise While Driving

Isometrics are specially made for sedentary work outs and can make a difference.

• Steering wheel isometrics: Start with your hands at nine and three on the steering wheel (just like driver’s ed class) and press inward with your arms. Hold for five counts, but keep the tension out of your neck. Repeat four times, and then move your hands to 10 and two and repeat. Changing positions of your hands will work different muscle groups.
• Belly vacuums: This is a great way to work your abs at traffic lights or waiting out a traffic jam. On an exhale simply pull your abs toward your spine without letting your back round. Keep the abs engaged and focus on breathing into the back of your ribs for three to five breaths.
• Glute winks: Your bum can get sore and numb from sitting for so long. This exercise not only works the glutes a bit, it also gets the circulation going once again and can relieve low back pain, too. Simply squeeze your right glute for three to five seconds, release it and switch sides. Repeat for a total of 10 times.

6. Plan Your Day

Get ahead on your day. Plan your work – work your plan. Plan out your agenda and priorities with a to-do list before you even set foot in the office.

5. Be Curious

Look around – people are all around you doing things. Get book suggestions for your Amazon wish list by noting what other commuters are reading. Note what the billboards on the roadside are advertising, you might get a great idea for work. Think and let ideas come your way – this is the time of day when your mind can drift; make the most out of it.

4. Get Current

Read the daily newspaper and arrive informed. Or maybe you watch the evening news or read the paper at home early in the morning and are up on what is happening in the world – great. Use this commute time to do some recreational reading; read that book you have had on your “to read” list since forever.

3. Get Relaxed

Whether it’s a Zen thing or just closing our eyes or staring out the window. No problem – this is a perfect change to chill out and get some mental time off. Music often helps to get into the relaxed state of mind.

2. Do Some People Watching

There is a lot to be said for observing those around you. What are people wearing – you might get some fashion ideas. What are they talking about (not that this article is meant to encourage eavesdropping – it’s not), maybe you are single and there is a cute guy/girl. Who knows, but people watching is an age old way of killing time, and works just as well on a train.

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