Make The Most of Your Commute: 9 Tips from a Resume Writer

Resume writer’s tips for a productive commute

Unless you’re a freelancer or a remote employee, the commute is inevitable. According to the statistics, an average American spends 26 minutes to travel to work. If you sum up this time, you’ll be curious to learn that you spend over a week each year simply getting to the office and back home.

Commute time is a great untapped reserve of time. And you don’t have to waste this time browsing Instagram feed or listening to a random playlist. There are lots of productive ways to spend your commute regardless of your preferred means of transportation. Today, our best resume writers will recommend the ideas of using commute in a way that helps your career and self-development.

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9 ways to make the most of your commute

1. Listen to audiobooks
   An average CEO reads 60 books per year, and reading a lot is essential for everyone who takes their career and self-development seriously. If you’re too time-pressed to read at home, try listening to audiobooks on your way to the office. Whether you drive or take a bus, the format of audiobook allows you to fully immerse into the book. Listening to fiction books will stimulate your creative thinking and expand your horizons, whereas business books will provide you with a handful of tips you can apply when you get to the office.

2.  Turn the commute into a brainstorming session
   the commute is the perfect time of the day to reflect and stay alone with your thoughts. You can also use it to derive new ideas for work or find a solution to the complex problem. So, grab your device or notebook, and start writing down whatever crosses your mind (or, switch on a recorder if you’re driving). Turn the entire commute to the office into a full-fledged brainstorming session. Observe the people or views if you feel stuck. When you’re not distracted and can fully immerse yourself into the issue, you are likely to work out non-trivial, creative solutions.

3. Create to-do lists
   Your productivity and energy at work depend on having a sharp focus and a clear plan for the day. Why not use the commute to think through your daily or weekly plan? Write down (or record) what you’re planning to accomplish this day, and then range these tasks by priority. You might also want to consider a bigger goal, break it into small and measurable tasks, and incorporate these tasks into your schedule. For instance, if you’re wondering how to create a blog for your small business, the smaller goals may include choosing the blogging platforms, analyzing the competitors and creating a content plan.

4. Learn something new
   Always dreamed about learning Spanish or the basis of effective negotiations but can hardly make time for it in your busy schedule? Try studying on your way to work. There’s a variety of learning methods and materials you can choose from depending on your means of commuting. If you are behind the wheel, you’ll enjoy the audio materials and lectures. And, if you take a train or bus, you might grab a textbook or download an app. There are even courses for effective resume writing which you’ll benefit from if you need a resume that will sell you to the new employer. 

5. Check emails and make phone calls
   If your inbox fills up faster than you can attend to all these messages, it makes sense to devote the part of your commute sorting through and responding to them. It will set you up for a more productive day. By the time you get to an office the part of working issues will be already solved. You can also use this time making business calls or checking voice mail. Whereas this method keeps you productive, don’t turn it into a daily routine.
   Did you know how to start an email to increase its chance of getting opened? Check it out here: https://resumeperk.com/blog/how-to-write-effective-email-that-get-opened

6. Calm your mind and meditate
   Dealing with stress caused by daily grind is quite a challenge. When you feel tense and anxious, meditation is the proven method to calm down your nerves. If you’re not driving, switch on the relaxing music, close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing or simply think about something good. Take advantage of apps that offer sessions of guided meditation, such as Calm. Daily meditations reduce stress levels, improve concentration and sleep. If you’re not a fan of meditation, take this time to reflect on your state or thoughts and recharge your brain. Slowing down and calming time after time and understanding where you’re headed is also important for your career and life.

7. Bicycle or walk to work
   When choosing the way of transportation to the office, we pay attention to how much it will take and its convenience. However, why not switch focus on your well-being and opt for healthier ways of getting to work? Starting and ending your working day with physical activity will help you keep in shape and is great for your physical and mental health. If you live not far away from your office building, consider walking or taking a bicycle. If there’s quite a distance between your home or office, try parking a couple of miles away from the office and walking the rest of the distance.

8. Stay in touch with your friends and family
   The productive commute doesn’t have to be about work only. Why not devote this time to someone who makes your life meaningful? Use this time to message or call your parents, your spouse, kids or friends. Reaching out to someone you love and care for will inspire you for the rest of the day and strengthen your relationships. Plus, if you work in a hectic environment, the commute is probably the only time of the day you can spend communicating with your loved ones.
   Feeling unmotivated to get things done in the office? Learn effective ways to restore work motivation.

9. Take a short nap
   You might question the connection between a productivity and sleeping during your commute. However, the experts say that a short nap makes positive effect on your body and mind. So, if you have sleeping issues or have had a difficult day because of demanding clients and an annoying boss, give yourself some rest and take a nap.
   Starting your morning right sets the tone for the rest of the day. Here’s how you can make your mornings productive: https://resumeperk.com/blog/7-morning-routines-for-better-productivity.

Commuting is a great untapped resource you can use for whatever activities that you struggle to find time for in the office. Listening to books or lectures, recharging your brain or applying for jobs if you’re job hunting – there are thousands of ways to make this time productive.

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