Can’t cut the commute? Beat it instead

People see the daily work commute in either one of two ways: a chance to rest or get a bit of work done, or a downright nuisance. Having long, suffering commutes is one of the driving reasons behind the recent coworking boom, and has led to a rise in flexible working.

Even if you want to work on the train or bus, it’s not really guaranteed that you’ll find somewhere to sit. The morning and late afternoon rushes result in overcrowded carriages, and you may need to work but you should probably stand up for that pregnant lady. And then standing is another issue in and of itself. Packed inside like sweaty sardines, you’ll trip over people’s bags that are left on the floor, step on other people’s shoes, and oh god, is that someone’s arm touching yours?

You could always drive. That’s always an option. You get the comfort of getting from A to B more directly, it’s warmer, and you don’t have to sit next to someone who breathes funny. But you’ve also got traffic jams, delays, your car going faulty, and lousy drivers to make your commute less than smooth.

There’s a few things you can do that can make the commute a bit easier. If you’re a total commute hater, it’s not always easy to avoid it. Flexible and remote work may be rising, but for a lot of workers it’s still not an option.

Bring a book

Reading – the age old pastime to pass the time. Investing in a e-reader makes for easy reading on the go, and with a whole wealth of options online there won’t be a chance you’ll be bored. Added benefits of an e-reader include being able to stand up and use it one handedly while the other hand is gripping for support in a swinging train carriage.

Power through a podcast

If books are too cumbersome (or you’re driving), there’s always podcasts. Chances are you already have a phone with a music platform, and chances are there’ll be podcasts on them. Either listen to some fantasy stories to make the trip a little more magical, or just listen to your favourite celebrities chat hot air.

Give your brain a break

Either with doodling, writing, or listening to music, it works a treat. You’ve got a long day ahead, so getting some mental rest before you go in and face the day, It can help you relax and feel a little more orientated going into work, rather than trying to get as much work done as possible.

Avoid the delays – literally

If you get to the train station and it’s already packed with a backlog of trains – turn around, head home or hit up a local cafe and wait for it all to blow over. You’re going to be late either way, so rather than stressing out over making it on time, start work early remotely and wait for the travel mania to subside – then make your commute.

Carpool the commute

Traffic jams and delays are never really that bad when you’ve got good company. If you’ve got a friend or colleague who also drives and goes to work in the same area, suggest a carpool. The issue of being late due to traffic delays or car problems won’t go away, but at least the journey will be entertaining (and a little bit more eco-friendly).

Stuck in traffic? Long public transport journey ahead? If you’re looking for something to do, why not check out our locations to find a Spaces near you, so you can cut the commute for good.