In 1980, Americans commuted an average of 21.7 minutes to work. Today, the typical commute has climbed to 27 minutes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. So if you spend a good chunk of your day in the car, you’re not alone. Most of America’s other workers are right there with you—hence that frustrating rush-hour traffic.
You may not be able to change the distance between you and your office, but you can change the way you approach your daily commute. Instead of dreading getting behind the wheel every day, make your commute a much more pleasant experience by following these simple tips.
- Choose a Way to Unwind First
If you’re already tense when you buckle up in the morning, your commute to work is doomed to be a gloomy one. Find ways to offset any stress you feel when getting up in the morning. For instance, you may want to squeeze in a quick workout at home or a yoga session at a nearby studio.
Perhaps enjoying a sit-down breakfast with a cup of coffee in the comfort of your own abode will make all the difference once you get behind the wheel. Maybe you simply need a few minutes to meditate and mentally prepare yourself for the day before it really gets going. Regardless, figure out what works and stick to a morning routine. Routine has been proven to have more of an impact than most of us probably realize.
- Create a New Playlist
If you like to listen to the radio while you’re on your way to work, you share this habit with approximately 84 percent of other Americans. There’s just one problem: You can’t control what comes on the radio. You can, however, create a new playlist of good driving songs. Design a playlist that’s filled with a mix of songs, some that are soothing—to stave off road rage—and others that are uplifting, in order to get you ready for another day of work.
If you’re having a hard time finding the perfect assortment of music, then consider letting your favorite music app do the hard work for you. Many of them offer predesigned playlists specifically crafted to make the morning commute a little bit easier or even boost the mood of anyone who listens. Either way, always be careful not to listen to songs that will inadvertently increase your speed or distract you!
- Or Treat Yourself to an Audible Subscription
Perhaps you’re not into listening to music on your daily commute. Instead, consider cracking open a new book. You can’t actually take your eyes off the road long enough to read a few chapters, but with audible subscription apps, you can still keep up with the latest bestsellers. Audiobook apps do the reading for you. Simply choose a book you’d like to listen to, download it and listen while its author or a famous voice reads each chapter.
- Try Getting Hooked on a New Podcast
Or if you’re not a big reader, you still might be interested in a podcast. A podcast is essentially the radio version of a television program, with all the drama and intrigue and none of the distracting video. Podcasts cover such a wide array of topics that everyone can find something that suits their tastes, whether it’s true crime, human interest stories, or even food and nutrition.
With both audible books and podcasts, you’ll want to make sure you download stories that run approximately with the amount of time it takes you to get to work. That way, you’re not coming into work distracted and feeling like you want to finish up the last 15 minutes of your podcast before doing anything else!
- Download a Mapping App to Save You Time
Anyone who’s ever commuted to work by car knows that the worst part of the daily grind is hitting unexpected traffic. You probably know the way to work, but in order to avoid traffic jams, download an app that’s sensitive to sudden backups, like Waze. This unique traffic app asks its users to report accidents and jams in real-time, which means it’s updated instant by instant without much delay. It can estimate exactly how long it’ll take you to get through a slowdown and also offer alternative faster routes if they’re available. This time-saving app is a must-have for any commuter.
With tips like these in mind, you might be surprised by how quickly your morning commute turns around (well, not literally). Instead of dreading the 30-60 minutes you spend in the car each morning, you may find that you actually look forward to this small chunk of alone time. Use it to decompress and get ready for what you’re doing next, and even the occasional extra traffic won’t be able to shake your good mood.
Photo by Juja Han
Kate Harveston
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