Top Tips for Commuting by Train
This is a collaborative post
Commuting is an unfortunate fact of life for office workers across the country, for worse and for better. The commute represents forced downtime, a mandatory A to B and no real options in between – but it also represents possibility, as your time to and from work can be utilised to further your work or further yourself. Here are four simple ways you can use your commute to its fullest.
Getting A Head-Start
Your daily commute on one of the UK’s many popular train routes could range in length, from 10 minutes to over an hour – but however long your commute, the time you spend on it can be used to improve your working day. With the use of a tablet or laptop, you may be able to access work you would be carrying out at the office – and may be able to give yourself a crucial head-start to your day, every day. By carrying out work-related tasks, whether tending to spreadsheets or answering emails, on your train journey you can reduce your day-to-day stress, and even shorten your working day as a result.
Furthering An Interest
Of course, you may not be keen on the potential for creating more work for yourself, so why not take the opportunity to work on yourself instead? With the average adult enjoying three hobbies weekly, your time spent travelling to and from work could be well-utilised servicing one of those hobbies – whether learning a new skill or discipline or simply indulging in a practice. Hobbies and skills could range from simply reading books to learning a new language, or from knitting to learning about photography.
Carrying Out Life-Admin
‘Life admin’ is usually something we carry out in our downtime, whether a fraught weeknight evening, a lazy Sunday or a strategic day off. Life admin can encompass everything from changing a bank account to negotiating a new energy tariff and can be a time-consuming part of time that should be yours to enjoy as you wish. Your regular train route for commuting, where you are essentially a captive audience for your journey, can provide an excellent opportunity to get the boring stuff out of the way before you arrive at work, or before you return home – returning your free time back to you.
Optimising Your Day
Even if you aren’t completely productive on your morning commute, you can still give yourself the best chance at a positive day without achieving anything concrete. Carrying out as simple an act as preparing breakfast to eat on your train can prepare you for your day, ensuring you eat healthily and provide yourself with important energy for the day ahead. It can be hard to find time to eat well as part of a hectic working schedule, but the downtime of a train journey provides the perfect time to do just that – and makes your journey useful regardless of productivity in other areas. You can also use your commute as a stress-reliever, by practising mindfulness or guided meditation to clear your head before your working day begins.
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