I Was Struggling to Make My Commute Productive. Here's what helped me

We’ve become conscious of the use of our time. We want to make the most of it. Commute is a time, which used to be just a block of time we used to get from one place to another. Once we reached our destination, only then our work/learning began. But not anymore.

With an increase in walking & using public transport to commute, I’ve tried to find ways in which I can do something which would ensure that I am using my time productively. But I couldn’t find what to do. Reading a book wasn’t an option as it is kind awkward and uncomfortable on the go. Listening to music helped my mood, but I felt that I wasted the time. Podcasts was a good option but I was drowning in a sea of options. Then, I found what I needed. A surefire system of things I could do, that would be convenient and ensure that I was using my time effectively. It is divided into 2 sections depending on the energy that I have while commuting

The commute learning system

#1 When energy is high: Travelling in the morning

I’ve experienced that travelling in the morning is a great time for me to learn new things. My focus is high and retention is the best. So here’s a list of things I do:

1. Listen to The Tim Ferriss Show:

Tim Ferriss is an author, investor and my favorite quality, an experimenter who wants to increase the quality of his life. These experiments involves work, diet, health, relationships, sex and many more topics. In the show Tim invites guests who are top performers in their fields, to get insights on what he can learn from them. His questions often try to find the “minimum viable dose” or an action that needs to be taken to increase performance. For example: Building your neck muscles is a great way to improve posture, induce confidence and improve overall spinal health. So by working on our neck, we can improve 3 aspects of our lives! This is a show all about great conversations and learning. I learn something each time I listen to it.

My favorite episode was with the guest Derek Sivers. He is a founder, musician, clown if you can believe it. His wisdom was simple yet very effective. If you want to start somewhere, start on this episode.

2. Using Phrazee:

Phrazee is an app that provides actionable wisdom one line at a time. It brings in phrases, lines, quotes from various sources like books, movies, speeches, podcasts to explore. And then takes it one step further. It provides explanations of the phrase and provides action steps on how it can be implemented in our lives. One of my favorite phrases is:

With going one line at a time and finding action steps that help me, it’s much easier for me to grasp a lesson on the go. It is convenient, easy on the time and a great way to explore different ideas.

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3. Non-Fiction Audiobooks on Audible:

I wasn’t a fan of audiobooks. I liked the tangibility of books a lot more effective. But with the discomfort of reading a book while walking or commuting, I thought I’d give audiobooks another go. And it was a game changer! Non-fiction audiobooks teach me something new every day. With the ability to bookmark and come back to the chapter you listened to it is a great way to engage. Somewhere you can start is:

Talking to strangers: Written by Malcolm Gladwell this is an amazing audiobook into the investigation on how we think of strangers and why do we interact with them the way we do. If you think you understand how you talk to strangers, this book might change your mind

#2 When energy is low: Travelling in the evening

Travelling back home in the evening from work or workout is a time I like to wind down. Finding balance in being productive and rejuvenating my energies to go through my evenings and night is essential. Here is what I helps:

1. Fiction Audiobooks on Audible

When I’m a little tired I like to listen to stories and tales. These transport me to a different world. It might feel like I’m wasting my time but I do learn from each story I listen to. My favorite fiction audiobook is:

The Sandman Series: A great audiobook series adapted from a comic book. This Neil Gaiman written and narrated story is sure to transport you in the world of dreams. The adventure taken on by The Sandman, king of dreams, or Morpheus is sure to engage you while teaching you a lesson.

2. Conversational podcasts:

These are podcasts I listen to not with the intention of gaining knowledge, but just expanding my worldview. These are light on the effort to understand and a great uplifter of mood. A good conversation is integral for this. A podcast that I’ve been listening to:

The Waveform Podcast: This podcast is great for you if you are interested in tech. It is informative yet it’s not a theoretical concept you’re trying to understand. Plus it’s pretty funny. A great listen if you’re open to it.

These are some things that helped improve my learning during commute. Be sure to check these out.

If you’d like somewhere particular to start. I’d recommend starting on Phrazee. It’s simple and effective to use. Helps you one line at a time.