10 Ways to Use Time Efficiently on Your Train Commute

There are many reasons why you might be stuck with a train commute. Often it might be cheaper than car travel, especially when you count the parking costs in big cities. It might be just a temporary thing until you find a closer place to live.

Whatever the reason there is no point in wasting all this time that is neither work nor leisure.

1. Read for Pleasure

   

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   In fact, why not make it leisure time? Are there any books you have been putting away for a long time? The best bit about books is that you can read them not only if you’ve got a seat , but also if you’re standing.

2. Educational Reading

   Maybe the job you are commuting to is not ideal. Why not up your chances at catching something better suited with educational books. Whether it’s a self-help guide, a technical manual, or a course book we learn all our lives, and up to date skills can always benefit all areas of your life.

3. Audio Books

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   Not the reading type? Well there are plenty of audio materials available. Again it does not matter if you just want to pass the time or learn something new – there is something for everyone on the market.

4. Podcasts or Radio

   If books are a bit too long for your attention span, maybe podcasts can interest you. These custom “radio” auditions can be downloaded to your mp3 player or similar device in advance and played back when you have some spare time alone.  The best bit is that they are available pretty much on every topic out there.

   Or maybe you prefer live news and old fashioned radio broadcasts? Many audio devices these days come with a built in radio. You can just plug-in your headphones and listen-away.

5. Listen to Music

   

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   When you want to relax a bit and not bother thinking about much there is always the simple option of music and headphones. From iPhones, iPods to more generic mp3 players you don’t have to carry a big device to be able to listen to your favourite tunes.

6. Read Email or the News
   

   With the internet available nearly everywhere and for close to nothing, many phones and PDAs come with internet access these days. Again good whether you are sitting or standing.  Use the commute to keep up to date with what is going on in the world around you.

7. Work with a Laptop

   This one is more for the lucky ones who go against the main traffic flow. If you can get seats on your commute and it is longer than half an hour it might be worth putting the time to good use and working on the latest project or having some fun while watching a movie or playing a game.

8. Work with a Notebook

   If you are not a gadget type maybe whip out a good old notebook and do some planning. A commute is a great time to write those todo lists and cross of the items you have done already.

   Feeling a bit more creative? Maybe you could write the next big novel, or produce some interesting sketches of the fellow passengers…

9. Make Business/Personal Calls

   This won’t make you many friends among your fellow passengers, but hey if it is not too noisy, and you don’t scream your throat out maybe you could sort a few things out or catch up with a friend.

10. Have a Meal

    And finally why not spend that extra 15 minutes in bed and have your breakfast on the train? Meals take quite a chunk of our time during the day, so why not use the time you are stuck on a train to satisfy your hunger.