How to be productive during your commute ... when you no longer commute

Commute time ... 

more important than you thought



The first thing that popped into my head when I was told I was going to be working from home for the foreseeable future was “hurrah, no more commuting for a while”.  


However, your commute is actually a very important part of your working day - it’s the transition period from home to work and work to home.  In the morning, it’s an opportunity to look ahead and plan the day and in the evening it's a time to reflect and unwind from the day.  


It’s for these very reasons that I didn’t want to lose that ‘commute’ time when I started working from home as I realised it played a vital role in my day.  I usually left home around 7.15 am and returned home about 6.30 pm.  So I had a huge chunk of time both morning and evening in which to do something productive.  I didn't want to fall into the trap of staying in bed then immediately starting work in the morning and then finishing work and getting stuck straight into my household chores.  More importantly, I didn't want to use that extra time to work even longer hours.


I'm pleased to say that I adapted to my new routine very quickly and I am loving the extra time I have in the mornings and evenings.  I get up around 6.20 am and give myself 10 mins to wake up before getting stuck into some exercise, which could be yoga, strength training or cardio.  It's a great way to set myself up for the day ahead.  Then when it's time to logon for work, I try not to start responding to emails immediately and instead I plan my day by checking the diary, reading through the emails and adding any tasks to my 'to do' list, then look through that list and plan my 'Today' list.  My 'Today' list usually consists of 3-5 tasks that I absolutely MUST do that day.


In the evening, I aim to finish work around 5.30 pm and use the next hour or so to unwind from work.  I might do some more exercise, usually yoga followed by 10 mins meditation to de-stress!  I also use some of the time to practise my French and catch-up on personal emails.  Some evenings I have set activities planned such as Tuesday evenings I run with my club, Wednesdays evenings I teach an online weights fitness session and every other Thursday I have a French lesson with my tutor.


Although I used to do many of these things before when working in the office, I'm now effectively using my 'commute' time to do them and I don't have the stress of driving before / after.


I'm sure that many of you had all good intentions of doing something similar with your saved 'commute' time but be honest, have you kept it up or let it drift somewhat?  The transition period before and after work is a really important part of your day and it's an opportunity to improve both your physical and mental health.




Making the transition from home - work - home

  • Break the bad habit of lying in bed until the last possible moment before starting work.  Don't get me wrong, sleep is important but it's not good for your health if you are literally rolling out of bed and onto your laptop.  Start by setting your alarm for 10 mins earlier than normal and then gradually increase the time to between 30 - 60 mins.
  • Use the time to move your body.  It can be something as simple as doing some stretches, especially in the morning when you're feeling tired and stiff.  In the evening, you can do something a bit more energetic.  I love doing some boxing moves which are guaranteed to get rid of any stress!
  • Do some meditation.  I can't believe I'm saying this as a few years ago I could barely sit still for 5 mins never mind sit still and clear my mind!  However, I've been practising meditation on a regular basis for around 2 years now and I absolutely love it.  In fact, I find that I really need those 10 mins every day to clear my head.  I find that affirmations also help to distract a busy mind and although you might feel a bit daft at first repeating things like "I am calm and centred", "I am strong and positive", trust me you'll soon get into the swing of it.
  • Progress your side project / start a side project.  I use a lot of my 'commute' time in the evenings to work on my fitness business, whether it's planning new sessions, doing online fitness sessions, writing a fitness plan for someone or simply posting inspirational stuff on social media for my clients.  If there's a side project you've been meaning to get up and running for ages, well now is the perfect opportunity.
  • Learn something new or improve your existing skills.  Use the time to study or start a new course, learn a new language or do something creative.
  • Simply chill.  Listen to some uplifting music or inspiring podcast, read a book that can transport you away to a different world, or simply catch-up with friends and family.
Don't waste your precious time, do something and do it now.  If you had a week to live, I'm sure you wouldn't be a) sleeping more or b) working longer hours.

#2020






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