If you have a commute longer than 15 minutes, you’ve probably dreamed about living within walking distance.
Maybe you’ve added up the hours you’d save in a week if you didn’t have to drive or take the subway. Maybe you’ve resented your job for demanding even more of your time that could otherwise be spent pursuing other interests. Maybe you’d prefer to be exercising, grocery shopping, or spending time with your children instead of commuting. We’ve all been there.
But did you know that there’s a silver lining to commuting?
Photo Credit: CC By Slightly Everything
The damaging effects of commuting were recently profiled in the New York Times:
Millions of Americans like her pay dearly for their dependence on automobiles, losing hours a day that would be better spent exercising, socializing with family and friends, preparing home-cooked meals or simply getting enough sleep. The resulting costs to both physical and mental health are hardly trivial.
Although commuting can have negative repercussions on our minds and bodies, there’s a silver lining, and it starts with changing your outlook.
Why Complaining Stifles Your Productivity
Commuting is a reality for many of us. It’s easier to complain and wish our circumstances were different, but scrunching your shoulders while you drive, or allowing yourself to be bitter while holding your arm on a pole in the subway isn’t serving your creative life. In fact, it does just the opposite, because a negative attitude can deplete your mental energy.
Instead, view this time as something you can control.
Start by allowing yourself the space to acknowledge your circumstances. Is it ideal? Probably not. Should you spend your waking hours dwelling on it? Probably not. Making peace with your daily commute is the first step in controlling how you spend the precious time.
Next, make a plan. There are a variety of ways commuting can serve you creatively, you just need to shift your mindset to embrace this time as a tool.
Stop using the word can’t. I can’t paint on my commute. I can’t sketch on my commute. I can’t write on my commute. This might be true, but there are many things you can do, so ask yourself this question:
What can I accomplish during my commute that I wouldn’t have space for otherwise?
How to be Creative on a Commute
Although a commute doesn’t allow you to sit at your desk or work in your studio, it does offer certain advantages. An hour-long bus ride is quiet time perfect for reading. A thirty mile drive is free of distractions from your home life, perfect for problem solving.
Here are a few ways to make your commute work for you.
1. Education. Don’t be idle during your commute. Put a book on tape into your car’s stereo, listen to a podcast, or learn a new language. If you’re not driving, read!
2. Problem solving. When you’re in a creative rut or stalled on your latest project, it helps to distance yourself. Stepping away physically and using your commute time to think through obstacles can often lead to insights that will keep you motivated over the long-term.
3. Daydreaming. When we’re sitting at a desk or meeting with clients all day, we don’t have time to let our minds wander. Commuting is an ideal space for this kind of thinking to to take place. Without the distractions of email, meetings, or the phone ringing, this is your time to think big, brainstorm a new project, and set intentions for your day.
Regardless of your circumstance, it always helps to stay positive. Being intentional about your commute will reframe what’s possible during the hours you spend on the road. You might be surprised at what can be accomplished!
If you’re a commuter, I’d love to hear your strategies for staying creative on the road. Share your thoughts in the comments.
