For those people who feel like they constantly have to be doing something productive, the commute to and from work is often a dreaded part of daily life. While the average commute is about 20-30 minutes, it is not uncommon to travel 45 minutes to an hour for work—and that’s just one way! When you double those numbers, commuting becomes even more time consuming.
The good news is, however, that time spent commuting to work doesn’t have to be time wasted. If you, like many others, take the bus, metro, or another form of public transit, you have even more opportunity to make good use of your commute time. Check out a few ideas below for making the most of your daily bus commute!
Get a jump start on work.
As much as you may try not to take your work home with you, sometimes it’s inevitable. If you’re constantly putting in extra hours in your home office, why not use your morning bus ride to take care of some of those tasks? Set yourself up for the day by making a to-do list, reviewing meeting notes and presentations, or catching up on busy work. With a smartphone or laptop (a lot of buses have WiFi these days), it’s easy to respond to emails and make work calls on the go.
Take this time to relax.
If you can’t stand the idea of starting your work day before you arrive at the office, use your commute time to prepare your mind for the day instead. Get yourself in the right mood for the day by listening to your favorite music or comedy album. Or, catch up on your podcasts, audiobooks, or regular old reading. You can even dedicate your time on the bus to meditation. Practice guided deep breathing and positive thinking to get yourself in a calm place and start the day off right.
Make a point to reach out to loved ones.
In the shuffle of everyday life, staying in touch with friends and family can often fall down toward the bottom of your list of priorities. Your daily bus commute can be the perfect opportunity to reconnect with close friends and family members. All it takes is a quick phone call, a couple of texts, or a weekly email to strengthen your relationships and reap the mental health benefits of social connection. Plus, how good will it feel to start your day with a nice conversation with a friend?
Further your education.
Have you been meaning to touch up on your Excel knowledge for your resume? Or have you always wanted to learn how to speak French? Turn those goals into a daily pursuit on your bus commute! The half hour or so you spend commuting twice each day is a great time to make progress on learning a new skill or exploring a subject that has always interested you. Sign up for an online course you can do from your phone, download a training app, listen to a podcast, or buy a book that will teach you what you want to know.
Check in with yourself.
It can be difficult to find time in your busy life to reflect on where you’re at and how you’re feeling. But checking in with yourself is an important aspect of facilitating personal and professional growth. A bus commute offers a great opportunity for you to just sit and think critically about your progress, goals, and anything else going on in your life at the moment. You can just sit and contemplate in your head to some reflective music. Or, bring a journal where you can write down your thoughts and keep a record of your reflections.
As a leading provider of new and used buses in the northwest U.S., Northwest Bus Sales makes it a goal to offer a selection of transit buses that meet the needs of every commuter. Our vehicles are in top mechanical shape and equipped with desirable amenities, making each one a safe and comfortable place for your passengers to focus on themselves while traveling to where they need to be.
Take a look at our different buses for sale online and contact us today for more information about any model that interests you!