Commuting to and from work every day is often stressful. There are some things you can do before, during, and even after your ride to change your stress level though. Some of the tips are as small as just changing your mindset, while others are more involved. Here are some tips for turning your commute into peaceful alone time.
Rethink Your Route
If you can, change-up your route to work. If you find yourself stuck in traffic every day, look for alternate routes that might add mileage but are more fun to drive. Take a look at a map, or reroute your GPS to take you over back roads. You might enjoy the scenery while you lower your anxiety level if you are not sitting in traffic.
Find Something To Occupy Your Mind
You can use your drive time to listen to an audio book or explore new music. Almost every book has an audio version so you can plug it in and enjoy the experience of having someone read to you. Think of the drive as a time when you don’t have to deal with everything that is going on in your life, and take advantage of the downtime.
Try Meditation
If you are not behind the wheel, block out all the sounds around you and try meditating. You can find instructions on how to meditate or even download an audio guide to get you started. Once you have mastered the technique, it can help to lower your stress levels significantly. If you are driving just keep your concentration on the road, and keep the sounds around you in the back of your mind. Meditation helps you to recenter yourself and it keeps your mind from wandering into thoughts that cause you stress.
Listen to a Podcast
There are hundreds of different podcasts available to choose from. You can find one on a subject that interests you and listen in while you ride or drive to work. If you don’t know where to start try Earbud.fm to find a list of popular and recommended podcasts from other listeners, writers, and media outlets. There are podcasts available in all different lengths so you can choose one that will last throughout your whole drive or ride.
Learn a New Language
If you have always wanted to learn to speak a different language but never had the time, use your commute to get started. There are several apps you can download that will walk you through learning any language you choose. They are easy to follow and you can choose the length of your lesson to coincide with the length of your commute.
Whether you commute is a short one or a long one, there are many things you can do to make it more enjoyable. Take advantage of all the technology and use the time to learn something new, or turn everything off and enjoy some peace and quiet before you get to the hustle and bustle of work or home.