My Sanity vs Commuting to Work

If you are like me, your commutes last longer than 30 minutes and you spend at least 1.5 hours each day getting to and from work or school. When I’m asked how do I remain sane spending at least 3 hours per day driving (15 hours per workweek), I usually respond with, “God and A LOT of podcasts”. For those of you that are struggling with your commute whether on a bus, train, or driving, here are a few ways I spend my journey to work:

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Meditation, prayer, reflection and silence
Surprisingly, when I get in my car I don’t immediately turn on the radio. Instead I usually spend a few minutes speaking to THE higher power, and reflecting on my day. During the other 21 hours of my day I am either on go mode or sleeping. Taking a few minutes to just sit in silence with my thoughts helps me find peace even if it’s only for a short period of time.

Phone calls
Most of best friends live at least 700 miles away from me, my car rides home (i.e. hours stuck in traffic) serve as the perfect time for us to catch up on the past week and life in general. These calls also help ground me, and remind me ‘who the eff I am’ when I’ve had a long day. Filling my car ride home with laughter, stories, and goal setting helps remind me that while it’s important to live in the moment, there is always a greater plan ahead.

Playlists
For the days when our schedules don’t align or early in the morning I find myself listening to playlists and podcasts. Crafting the perfect morning and even mix is an art in itself, and I pride myself in curating lists to balance out my feelings for the day. I have lists that range from all music genres, and albums that are on constant repeat. Great music can truly change the trajectory of your day. Do you have a favorite spotify playlist? Leave it in the comments below, I’d love to check it out.

Podcasts
I am new to the podcast world, but I have to say that so far I am a fan. I didn’t really listen to podcasts until I was gifted this beautiful commute but I have to say… they have been vital in my sanity. The best part about podcasts are the topics range from ratchet to informational and everything in between. If you’re looking to join the podcast wave here are some of my favorites: Secret to Success, The Read, Guys We Fxcked, For Colored Nerds, and Completely Optional Knowledge.

Reading/Audiobooks
If you commute using public transportation, reading is also a great option. Try catching up on books you’ve been meaning to read or tune into an audiobook. I haven’t tried audio books yet, I’m afraid that the reader's voice will put me to sleep which is the opposite of what I’m looking for. I am planning on trying it in the very near future, I will keep ya’ll up-to-date.

How do you spend your time commuting? Have any podcasts to add to my list? I love trying new ones. Leave them in the comments below!