For so many years, my commute felt like a tax I paid in time. Forty-five minutes each way, five days a week, in either stop-and-go traffic or wedged into a train car that felt like it was holding the entire city. I’d arrive at work already drained and return home with just enough energy to eat something vaguely dinner-like and scroll my phone until bed.
It wasn’t just the boredom. It was the mental load of knowing I was spending roughly two full workdays a month—the equivalent of over 200 hours a year—in transit without anything to show for it. That’s when I realized I had two choices: keep resenting it, or find a way to make those hours feel less like wasted time and more like an extension of my day.
The shift didn’t happen overnight. But once I started treating my commute as its own space—not just the purgatory between home and office—it slowly transformed. Now, it’s one of the few built-in pockets of my day that feels like mine.
Why We Hate Commutes (and Why We Don’t Have To)
Transportation researchers have long studied how commutes affect our mood, productivity, and health. According to a 2019 study from the University of the West of England, adding just 20 extra minutes to a commute can have the same negative impact on job satisfaction as a 19% pay cut. That’s not just about lost time—it’s about how we perceive that time.
When we treat commuting as “dead time,” we train our brains to resent it. But framing it as usable, purposeful, or even restorative time can dramatically change the experience. This isn’t about toxic positivity; it’s about reclaiming control over something you can’t fully avoid.
Step One: Define What You Actually Need in That Time
For me, the commute wasn’t just about getting from A to B—it was about mentally preparing for or decompressing from the workday. Once I understood that, I started asking: What would make this time feel less like a void and more like a buffer?
For some, that answer might be:
- Mental stimulation (podcasts, audiobooks, language learning)
- Quiet and reflection (meditation apps, journaling by voice memo)
- Planning and organizing (using the time to map out the day or week)
- Social connection (catching up with friends via calls)
The trick is not to overload the commute with productivity goals. Pick one intention per ride so it feels doable, not like another task list.
Step Two: Create a “Commute Kit”
The same way people build gym bags or travel kits, I built a small “commute kit” that made the experience feel prepared rather than chaotic. Mine includes:
- Noise-canceling headphones
- A small notebook for jotting ideas
- A water bottle or coffee
- Sunglasses (yes, even on the train—overhead lighting can be harsh)
This kit lives in my work bag so I don’t have to think about it each morning. The mental relief of being prepared means I start the commute already in a calmer headspace.
Step Three: Curate a Soundtrack (and Stick to It)
I used to scroll aimlessly through playlists, wasting ten minutes deciding what to listen to. Now I have three standing “commute soundtracks”:
- Focus Mode: Instrumental or lo-fi playlists for reading or thinking.
- Mood Lift: Upbeat tracks for days I need energy.
- Wind Down: Softer music or slow-tempo songs for the ride home.
Psychologists note that music can regulate cortisol levels (your body’s main stress hormone), which explains why the right soundtrack can shift how the commute feels.
Step Four: Rethink the Route (and the Routine Around It)
For years, I defaulted to the fastest route possible. Then I tried leaving ten minutes earlier and taking a slightly slower, more scenic option. To my surprise, it didn’t feel like “more commuting”—it felt like less stress.
Sometimes the fix isn’t about speed. It’s about which route gives you more control over the experience, whether that’s avoiding crowded trains or bypassing a traffic choke point.
Step Five: Use the Time to Save Money (Yes, Really)
Here’s where the finance brain kicks in. I realized my commute could double as a money-saving habit.
- Meal planning: Using part of the ride to plan my groceries cut down on random takeout.
- Bill review: I set aside one morning commute a week to check subscriptions or budget apps.
- Retail resistance: If I wanted to buy something, I’d make myself wait until after the ride home. Often the impulse faded.
According to a 2022 Mint survey, simply adding a 24-hour pause before online purchases reduced non-essential spending by up to 20%. For me, the commute became that pause.
Step Six: Embrace “Micro-Projects”
Big goals can feel impossible to work on in a 30-minute window, but “micro-projects” thrive here. I’ve used commutes to:
- Edit five photos from a trip
- Outline a short article draft
- Learn ten new vocabulary words in Spanish
- Organize a note on future gift ideas for friends and family
The key is that each project has a clear, small endpoint so I get a mini sense of accomplishment before stepping off the train or out of the car.
Step Seven: Learn to Let Some Rides Be Nothing
One of the biggest shifts in my relationship with commuting came when I stopped trying to always optimize it. Some mornings, I do nothing but stare out the window. Some evenings, I scroll Instagram guilt-free.
Building enjoyment into the commute isn’t about squeezing value from every second—it’s about giving yourself permission to experience it in a way that supports your mental state that day.
When the Commute Is the Only “Me Time” You Get
If your days are jam-packed with responsibilities, the commute may be your only regular pocket of solitude. This is especially true for parents, caregivers, or anyone with a demanding household schedule.
Recognizing that changed the way I valued the time. Instead of wishing it away, I started treating it like a daily appointment with myself. Even ten minutes of reading or quiet thought became a non-negotiable ritual.
A Note for Remote or Hybrid Workers
Even if you no longer commute daily, you can still borrow from these principles. Try creating a “fake commute” ritual at the start and end of your work-from-home day—a walk around the block, a podcast session, or even a quick coffee run.
Studies from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index show that workers who simulate commute-like transitions report better focus and lower stress levels than those who work without a clear mental boundary between home and office.
The Money and Energy Math of a Happier Commute
It’s easy to underestimate how improving your commute can indirectly save you money. A less stressful start might mean fewer “I deserve this” impulse purchases after work. A routine of meal planning in transit could cut grocery waste.
And if a small investment in better headphones or a monthly audiobook subscription makes that time more enjoyable, the return on investment comes not just in better mood, but in better daily decision-making.
The Takeaway Scoop
The commute is never going to be the highlight of the day for most people—but it doesn’t have to be the low point either.
By reframing it as a personal buffer, preparing for it like you would any other part of your day, and giving yourself permission to use it for both productivity and rest, you can turn those hours into something that supports rather than drains you.
The surprising thing? Once I stopped seeing my commute as “lost time,” I realized I’d been gaining something all along: a rare, uninterrupted stretch of my own choosing in a world that constantly demands my attention.
Everest Zwerchmaeir, Senior Editor, Life & Culture
Everest covers the overlaps between daily behavior, mental health, digital rituals, and the media moments we’re all quietly unpacking. With a background in media studies and years in the indie film world, she blends personal insight with smart storytelling.
