Heading Back to the Office? Here’s How to Change up Your Commute
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, certain things that were pretty commonplace before COVID-19 are beginning to return to our everyday lives. Jeans, make-up, a bra, and for many of us, the daily commute back into the office.
As someone who has spent over a year commuting two hours back and forth for work, I had a lot of time to ponder how best to spend that stationary time. Now that we’ve had months of time on our hands to play with, it seems even more important to make the most of our spare time. Luckily, your commute is one area that you can spruce up and even enjoy.
Listen to a Podcast
If you don’t mind the risk of bursting out laughing on the 7.14am service to London, a podcast is a great way to entertain yourself on a commute or to learn more about a subject that you’re interested in. Audible has lots of podcasts and audiobooks to get started with, plus a 30-day free trial to ease you back in the working world.
Need some recommendations to get started? Here's a couple to sink your teeth into.
Journal
Even - or especially if! - you’ve never done journaling before. As many of us head back out into the working world, it’s natural to feel more anxious than usual. Journaling is a great way to lay out your thoughts either before or after your working day, helping you to take account of your feelings, reflect on the day or week ahead, or make a to-do list.
Need a few ideas to get started? Here's five creative ways to journal.
Photo by Jess Bailey
Sharpen Your Mind With a Brain Training App
What better way to set yourself up for the day ahead than with some problem solving? Peak and Elevate are two apps that you can use daily for free that aim to sharpen the mind and improve cognitive skills through a series of stimulating games and mental workouts.
Meditate
Yes - on the train! If a busy mind is what’s ruining your commute, then start the day off gently with a meditation and mindfulness app. While a Thameslink carriage isn’t everyone’s idea of zen, a guided meditation app (such as Headspace or Calm) and some noise cancelling headphones could transform your daily commute into some much needed ‘me’ time.
Watch a New Netflix Series
I’ll forever be grateful to all seven series of Orange Is the New Black for keeping me company on every 7am and 6pm train journey I took - in fact, I even came to look forward to being able to catch up on the next episode. Plus, if there’s one way to effectively kill an hour, heaven knows Netflix can do it.
Fancy getting started with some true crime docs? Here’s some recommendations, and where to watch them.
Talk to Someone
Let’s be honest, we all have at least one Whatsapp message or email that hasn’t been read. Why not use this time to reconnect with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, or meet some new friends in your area using an app like Bumble BFF? Just because a commute is usually a solitary exercise, it doesn’t mean it has to be a totally unsociable event!
Work on a Side Project
Whether you’ve been thinking about going freelance, setting up a side business, or simply spending more time on finishing a project you love, the empty time of a commute could be the perfect place to do it. Who knows, you might even finish that novel you’ve been thinking about writing for years...
Disclaimer: We have an affiliate deal with Audible to keep City Girl Network Magazine running. You can also support us via Patreon or a one-off donation.
Written by Danielle Petch
