While necessary, commuting to work can feel like it is draining your life force. With other frustrated commuters and an influx of traffic, this can feel like the perfect storm to ruin your day. Although you cannot change the number of other commuters or their behaviors, you can make your experience more enjoyable. If you want your commute to be less painful, here are a few tips.
The Right Station or Soundtrack
Your commute can be the perfect time for you to find time for yourself. You can listen to what you want, and the right station or soundtrack can be exactly what you need to focus on you. Add red eye radio, your favorite podcast or your favorite jams to your daily commute and give yourself a chance to unwind. Regardless of whether you are traveling by car, listening on headphones on public transportation or taking this on your walk to work, you can tune into your favorite audio experience and make your commute much more enjoyable.
Ease Into the Day
One of the reasons why many people find commuting so stressful is due to the jarring feeling of thrusting themselves into the day. Instead of jumping directly into email when you wake up or jamming too much into your morning routine, try easing into the day. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready for your day and let yourself fully wake up before you thrust yourself into the chaos of the commute or the busyness of work.
Fuel Your Body Before You Leave
If you are one of the commuters who consistently is eating on the go, this can feel stressful. Instead of cramming your food in as you are driving or taking public transportation to work, spend time having a nutrient-rich breakfast. Not only can this give you a boost of energy, but it can leave you less frustrated and stressed out during your travels. Don’t forget to equip yourself with snacks for your ride home and commuter essentials to ensure that you are ready for anything.
Take a Walk
A preferable way to begin your day is with physical activity. You can combine your commute with exercise by integrating a short walk into your mornings or changing your commute so that you can bike or walk to work. This can boost your endorphins, increase your activity level and start your day on a positive note. Even if you circle the building or get off one subway stop earlier, you can exercise with some creative thinking.
Take A Moment for Mindfulness
Whether you can fit this in before your commute or during, taking a moment for mindfulness can make the world of difference. As a part of your slower mornings, finding a sense of calm and peace can be influential on the rest of the day. By investing a few moments in mindfulness, you can stave off some of the stress of commuting.
Be Kinder to Others Along the Way
Interacting with so many other frustrated commuters gives you the perfect opportunity to prioritize kindness. By making a conscious effort to embody compassion, you can help make someone’s day a little bit easier. Although the greatest benefit is likely to be on you. Being kind to others can help you reframe your thinking and set your day to embrace your more positive outlook.
Avoid Upticks of Traffic if You Can
Because there are so many other commuters on the road, traffic can be messy. If you get stressed out about these high traffic times, consider avoiding them. Whether you leave a little bit earlier in the day or see if you can flex your work schedule, find ways to promote your wellbeing while you commute. Stressing out about being late for work is a terrible way to start your day, and you can do your best to avoid this when you avoid upticks in traffic.
Commuting can be an unnecessarily intense and stressful activity; however, if you rethink how you go about your commute, you transform this time into a more enjoyable experience. With planning, preparation and a few tweaks to your schedule, you can completely change how you experience your commute.
