Removing Stress From Your Commute

Most people agree that one of the worst parts of each day is commuting to and from work.

If you live in a big city, commuting is a daily stressor that can leave you feeling grumpy and

frustrated when you finally exit your car.

Even in smaller cities, commuting isn’t fun, because most people go to work and return home

at roughly the same time of day.

“Most people agree that one

of the worst parts of each day is

commuting to and from work.”

Make your commute more bearable by lowering your stress levels with these smart stress

management techniques.

Create a Learning Opportunity

You’re stuck in the car for the same number of minutes every morning and evening, Monday

through Friday.

Part of what makes commuting so unbearable is the feeling that you’re wasting time.

Turn that time you’re sitting in the car into productive learning time.

Have you been meaning to read the latest New York Times bestseller?

Download the audiobook to your Samsung Galaxy S7 from T-Mobile.

Did you always want to learn another language?

Your commute is a great time to start, and with T-Mobile’s fast network, you can be sure that

you’ll have the network connection you need to run your apps the whole way there.

Podcasts are another wonderful way to add some mental stimulation to your commute.

Choose one that focuses on subjects you love, or choose one that offers an array of interesting

things you never knew before.

RadioLab and TEDTalks are both fantastic podcasts that’ll leave you feeling smarter and a bit

lighter after you get out of the car.

Go Sustainable

Not everyone lives close enough to work to walk or bike.

If you do, think about ditching the car for one or two days a week when you walk or bike to

work instead.

You may have to adjust your routine, like leaving earlier or packing a change of clothes in a

small knapsack.

The benefits of walking or biking to work are numerous.

You’ll engage in extra activity throughout the week, which will give you a small endorphin boost.

You’ll reduce your carbon footprint by consuming less fossil fuel.

You’ll also reduce the stress on your car, making it last longer.

Listen to Great Tunes

Commuting on public transportation comes with its own set of stresses and frustrations.

Finding somewhere to sit isn’t always easy.

Fellow commuters jostle you and get in your space, and when the bus or train is overcrowded,

you’re dying for your commute to be over already.

A great playlist full of calming music is the answer.

If you listen to something loud, you might miss important notifications or distract yourself so

you miss your stop.

Classical music is what experts recommend for reducing stress and improving concentration.

If classical isn’t your thing, check out other genres instead.

Make a playlist of your favorite singer songwriter tunes.

Check out Spotify playlists that focus on yoga and meditation music.

Post rock is another genre that offers pretty instrumental tracks sure to soothe you.

“The key is to change your state

of mind while you’re commuting

so you can let the stress roll off you

instead of hitting you in the gut.”

Prepare for Morning at Night

Part of what makes commuting so stressful is the time factor.

You leave with just enough time to rush to work, but you only arrive on time if you don’t hit any

red lights on the way.

That means every person who cuts you off or slows you down is going to make your stress level go up.

The solution is to leave earlier, and the key to leaving earlier is having a productive night before.

Prepare your lunch, pack your briefcase, and lay out your clothes for the morning.

If you’re indecisive about breakfast, get it together the night before so all you have to do is microwave

the breakfast sandwich or pull the top off the yogurt container.

Grind your coffee beans the night before, too, so you don’t miss out on your caffeine.

Fighting for space on the train or getting cut off in traffic is going to happen no matter what you do.

The key is to change your state of mind while you’re commuting so you can let the stress roll off you

instead of hitting you in the gut.

Photo source: Traffic Image via Flickr by Brian Sawyer

Photo source: Bicycle Image via Flickr by cdelmoral

What are your tips for removing stress from your commute?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

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