Can Your Commute Make You Happier?

Community Manager — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:26:00 GMT

When you free associate the word "commute" you are probably more likely to think "long" than "marital happiness." But a recent study that is getting attention in the Harvard Business Review finds that couples that commute together are more likely to experience marital satisfaction that those that don't. Interesting stuff.

Still not everyone can commute with their significant other, but the study got us thinking: can our commute make us happier in other ways?

Making the Most of Commute Time

Try and take a "glass half full" view of your commute and view the time as an opportunity. The average American commutes almost 50 minutes a day, says the Census Bureau: use this time wisely and you may find yourself appreciating your travel time.

Get to that Book: Curling up with a great read is not for bedtime only. E-books make reading even the weightiest tome manageable on a commute. Join social networking site Goodreads.com for book recommendations from friends. Or collect useful articles in your e-reader for subway or train perusal. Car commuters, you can get in the action with audio books.

Advance Your Career: No time for networking? Use your commute time to fit critical networking time into your busy schedule. Update your LinkedIn profile; send networking e-mails to industry contacts and schedule future lunch and drinks dates with peers. Keep abreast of industry trends by reading useful articles or listening to podcasts. Car commuters, take advantage of your hands-free device to schedule calls with mentors and peers.

Scheme, Daydream: Downtime is a rare commodity. Make the most of the idle hour to let your mind wander. Keep a notebook handy or download a note-taking app on your smart phone to jot down any inspiration that strikes.

Unwind: Can't find time to get to that crossword puzzle? Squeeze in a nap? Download that new album and play it from start to finish? You're in luck - you're commute provides a window of time to devote to these small moments of Zen.

How do you make the most out of your commute? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Finding the Silver Lining in Your Daily Commute

Community Manager — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:17:00 GMT

The average American spends about 100 minutes commuting daily. So it's no surprise to learn that commute time plays a major role in employee satisfaction and retention. A recent survey by Regus, a workplace solutions provider, found that 16 percent of the U.S. workforce has considered leaving a job because of commuting distance. And the longer the commute, the greater the employee dissatisfaction.

Making the Most of Commute Time

While we can't shorten the distance between home and office or ease traffic congestion, we can help find the silver lining in what is often viewed as an unsatisfactory way to spend that most valuable of commodities: time.

Make your commute time multitask by using it for both productive learning and relaxation. I have a friend who uses her New York-to-San Francisco flying time to catch up on work on the trip out West and on movies on the return leg.

Want to be Productive?

Learn: Audio books and podcasts make it possible to learn everything from foreign languages to the latest business innovations. Get to those unread professional journals or business bestsellers.
Correspond: Read and return e-mails with your PDA and keep up with social media networks. Try to limit work calls however; you don't want to breach company privacy or distract fellow commuters.
Work: Use your laptop to proof documents, review reports or get a jump start on projects.
Organize: Create and maintain to-do and project-related lists. Sync your calendar with your PDA.

Hoping to Relax?

Read: Escape into a good book with your Kindle, an audio book or a traditional hardcover.
Listen: Break out those ear buds and enjoy your iPod or Sirius Stiletto. Download new tunes to your playlist.
Play: Crossword puzzles anyone? Sudoku, video games and iPhone apps all put entertainment at your fingertips.
Meditate: Close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing. Use meditation podcasts or audiotapes to help eliminate commute distractions.
Ruminate: Sit and think. Clear your mind by writing in a journal or by watching the window-scenery unfold. Time to think is time well spent.

Finally, for nitty-gritty tips on maximizing commute time (sit near exits for speedy disembarkation and don't forget the hand sanitizer!) check out 100 Excellent Lifehacks for Your Long Commute.

How do you maximize your commuting time? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Carly Fadako

Beyond Folders : commute, time management

Can Your Commute Make You Happier?

Finding the Silver Lining in Your Daily Commute