Just go ahead and picture this (and it’s probably something you do daily): your clock goes off, you stumble into your clothes, and then boom, you’re stuck in traffic before you’ve even had a chance to wake up properly. Don’t own a car? No problem, because instead, you’re in a city commute and you’re crammed onto a train (or bus) that reeks of three-day-old coffee and a smelly egg sandwich (or just anything gross for that matter). Well, by the time you finally drag yourself through the office doors, you already feel like you’ve done a full day’s work. And it’s not even 9 a.m. yet.
It’s awful, right? If you’re dealing with this every single day for your job, yeah, it’s absolutely miserable, and this description hits way too close to home. Well, for most people, the commute is the absolute worst part of the day. It’s the mood-killer that sets everything else off on the wrong foot. Now, does it actually have to be this miserable? Well, no, even though it feels like it. You can use this good chunk of time for something better, and here’s how!
Stop Thinking of it as Dead Time
For starters, most people treat the commute like wasted hours. You’re just getting from point A to point B, right? Nope, wrong. Actually, that time is yours. It’s not the DMV, it’s not detention, and it doesn’t have to feel like punishment. Think of it as the little buffer between your home life and your work life. It’s the chance to mentally shake things off, reset, and arrive without dragging your morning chaos in behind you.
When you start looking at it that way, the whole mood shifts. Instead of staring at the clock and groaning, you can actually use it to get something out of it, well, even if that “something” is just not wanting to scream at a traffic light.
Make it Your Moving Morning Routine
Oh yeah, basically, everyone’s obsessed with morning routines these days. But guess what? Yours doesn’t need to stop the second you leave your front door. Nope, really, you read that right, instead, stretch it out into your commute. That could mean putting on your feel-good playlist and vibing your way to work, or listening to that audiobook that makes you forget you’re even on the bus.
But even something simple like swapping your usual route for one that’s slightly nicer to look at can set the tone differently. Instead of brake lights and concrete, maybe you get a park view or catch the sunrise. So, if you think of it that way, it’s just a part of your routine, and it just doesn’t feel so bad with that mental shift.
Move Your Body in a Way that Doesn’t Feel Like a Workout
Now, sure, that heading sounded weird, but just bear with this for just a second. So, the human body wasn’t built to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic for an hour every morning. Really, it wasn’t, and all of this is still technically a new concept (even though it doesn’t feel like it). So yeah, it’s no wonder it feels like you’ve already done battle before you even clock in. Add some movement, and things start to shift.
Now, don’t panic. This doesn’t mean running to work like you’re auditioning for a fitness commercial. Yeah, there are people who quite literally run or jog to work (it was even a trend for a lot of people in Manhattan a few years ago). Anyways, no, no running. Honestly, you could just walk to work if you live close enough. But of course, you could just buy an e-bike and ride that to work instead. Doing a commute by bike isn’t anything new, but it’s thankfully becoming more common.
Sure, people in Japan, Denmark, and the Netherlands do this daily, but riding bikes around is becoming more widely accepted in major cities (and smaller ones) worldwide. Oh, and it helps that bike lanes are becoming more common too. But skipping traffic and getting that fresh air really can help.
Rebrand it as “Me Time”
You have to keep in mind that nobody owns your commute but you. It’s the one part of the day when you’re not being pulled in every direction by bosses, kids, or never-ending notifications. It’s your time, and you get to call the shots.
Believe it or not, but some people use it to brainstorm ideas, others to totally zone out and give their brain a break. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it feels like you’re using the time for yourself instead of letting it drain you. Even if all you do is sip coffee and stare out the window, that’s still time that belongs to you.
Shake Up the Scenery
So, one of the worst things about commuting is how predictable it is. Now, just think about it all for just a moment; same traffic. Same train stops. Same frustration. Day after day. No wonder it feels like Groundhog Day with more honking. Even the tiniest changes can make it feel less like punishment.
Ideally, try switching up your route so it passes through a neighborhood you like, or get off the train one stop early and take a walk that actually feels nice. It doesn’t have to be longer; it just has to feel different. It helps to just notice your surroundings and all the new changes.
Use it as a Reset Button
Yeah, this last one sounds a tad weird, since it’s the commute to work and all, but it doesn’t have to be bad in the slightest. So, just think of your commute as the line in the sand. On the way in, it’s where you gear up for the day ahead. On the way home, it’s where you dump everything so it doesn’t follow you through the door.
That reset is powerful, and it can completely change how you show up on both sides of the ride. A lot of people do think of it like this, too; it’s like a buffer to break away from work so they can enjoy the rest of their day. Basically, work stays at work, home stays at home, and your commute is what keeps the two from crashing into each other.
