How to Make the Most of your Journey to Work
How to make the most of your journey to work
People have to spend time commuting to and from work, and the travel time represents down time. What is down time?
Definition of Down time: It's time which is occupied with an unavoidable task, one which requires little brain power. As a consequence, down time is often unproductive, wasted time.
Down time includes, travelling to work, waiting for buses, trains and planes, ironing, vacuuming, washing up, mowing the lawn, sitting in traffic congestion etc.
This down time is wasted time; but it does not have to be.
Here are a few suggestions to how to get the best from down time:
- Study a new language.
- Set goals for the future.
- Make plans on how to achieve existing goals.
- Prepare or rehearse for an important event or conversation.
- Review a past event or conversation and figure how you could have handled it better.
- Memorise some important facts.
- Listen to an educational work-related educational programme.
- Rest and relax and enjoy the opportunity to do nothing.
1. Use down time to study a new language.
We live in a multicultural world and language learning is a valuable skill. If you spent half an hour every day learning a foreign language during your down time, that would be a good use of your time. There are plenty of providers of language learning systems which you can use. My favourite language teacher is Michel Thomas, whose programmes are easily available online and in shops.
2. Set goals the future.
Your success depends upon you achieving goals, and the first step to achieving a goal is to set it. Spend your down time thinking about what you want for the future. Where do you want to be a year from now? How do you want to be a year from now?
Set valuable long-range goals for yourself and your loved ones.
3. Make plans on how to achieve existing goals.
You may already have goals and ambitions, but you may NOT have practical plans that will achieve them. You can use your down time to make detailed plans that will transform your goals into reality.
You may have a goal to get into better physical condition. Use your down time to devise a training and diet regime that will give you the body you want.
Remember that a goal without a plan is a fantasy. A goal together with a detailed plan, becomes a powerful tool for progressive change.
4. Prepare or rehearse for an important event or conversation.
You may have an important event or conversation on the horizon.
Use your down time to prepare your mind for the event. Go over the facts that led to the situation, go over the options available and make some decisions about how you will handle the event or conversation.
Remember: Luck favours the prepared mind.
5. To review a past event or conversation and figure how you could have handled it better.
On any particular day, you can think about an important recent event or conversation that did not go as well as you had hoped. You can use your dead time, NOT for beating yourself up over what went wrong, but thinking about what lessons you learned from that bad situation and how you can apply the lesson to similar situations in the future.
You can learn from the past, but only if you ponder its meaning.
Use your down time to ponder the meaning of past events.
6. Memorise some important facts.
It is said that knowledge is power.
You can use your down time to memorise facts that are associated to your work. Memorise the periodic table. Memorise the multiplication table. Memorise the definitions of the law. Memorise the important facts figures and formulas that you should know, but don't.
If you learn more, you'll earn more.
Use your down time to memorise key facts.
7. Listen to an educational programme.
Don't restrict yourself to learning work related things. Learn about the world about you and how it works. Listen to educational podcasts on history, economics, philosophy, geopolitics, psychology and ethics.
Why not? You're not doing anything better during your down time.
8. Rest and relax and enjoy the opportunity to do nothing.
Of course, you could just go back and do nothing. Since everyone needs to rest, maybe a good way to use your down time is to rest.
Definition: Down time
In personal productivity, down time is a time resource that: 1) occurs while you carry out a task you cannot skip, such as travelling or waiting; 2) needs very little thought, leaving the mind free; 3) sits in fixed daily blocks that you cannot shorten; 4) turns into wasted minutes unless you choose a clear, useful or restful use for it.
Show CG4D Definition
- Happens during tasks that must take place, like commuting or chores
- Requires minimal mental effort, freeing attention
- Exists in fixed periods that cannot be shortened
- Becomes wasted unless given a planned purpose
Article Summary
Turn a dull journey into a productive commute by learning a new skill, setting clear goals, reflecting on talks or simply resting; arrive at work smarter and calmer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is down time on my journey to work?
Why should I make my commute more productive?
How can I learn a new language while travelling?
What goal setting steps suit a bus or train ride?
How do I rehearse for a tough conversation on the move?
What are simple ways to relax on a crowded train?
Are podcasts a good down time activity?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
UK commuters now spend an average of 225 hours a year travelling to and from work, equal to about 56 minutes each working day (Department for Transport, National Travel Survey 2024). 49% of British commuters listen to educational podcasts or audiobooks during their journey, up from 38% in 2022 (Deloitte Digital Media Trends Survey, UK Edition, 2024).About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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