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By Molly Luffy
Monster Contributing Writer
I remember my days of riding the bus to work with fondness: No phones, no questions, no crazy drivers -- just time to do whatever I wanted. Usually I would use the time to get productive work-related activities done on the way to work and relax on the way home. Sometimes I’d answer emails or write outlines for upcoming projects. Other times I’d listen to music or work a crossword puzzle.
It truly did add to my quality of life. I was ready to hit the ground running when I arrived at work and de-stressed and relaxed by the time I returned home.
You too can make your public commute a time to look forward to. Here’s a look at some productive activities as well as some ways to decompress.
Productive Time
• Learn Something: With an endless variety of podcasts and audio books available, you have no excuse to not check out the latest business bestseller. This is a great way to learn strategies for enhancing your career.
• Work: Proof documents, review management reports or outline projects. You’ll be ahead of the game when you arrive at the office -- those endless workplace interruptions might not even bother you as much.
• Catch Up on Correspondence: Read and return emails using your PDA. Timely responses are impressive and appreciated by your colleagues and demonstrate your professionalism and dedication to your job.
• Keep Up on Industry Trends: This is the perfect time to read those professional journals that always seem to pile up. Knowing the latest info is a definite career enhancer.
• Organize Your Day or Week: Use this time to create and maintain your to-do and project-related lists. Uberorganization is key to meeting deadlines and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Relaxation Time
• Journal: One of the best ways to process stress is by writing out your experiences. This act helps you get out of your head and provides clarity.
• Meditate: Close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing. Breathe deeply into all parts of your body, and resist the thoughts that crowd your mind. Just be. When you have a thought, gently release it, and come back to your place of peace.
• Listen to Music or Other Audio: Put on your iPod or Sirius Stiletto and bliss out to your favorite tunes. It’s a great way to escape. Just restrain yourself from singing out loud. You can also listen to a book on tape.
• Read: There can be nothing better than escaping into a good book.
• Play Games: Solve Sudoku or crossword puzzles for some cerebral relaxation, or totally escape playing your favorite handheld video game.
It doesn’t matter which activity you choose. What does matter is that you enjoy yourself. Ignore your surroundings, and focus on what you’re doing.
Plan Your Public Commute Time
Whether you choose productive time, relaxation or a combination of both, planning is key to making this strategy work for you. Create a dedicated space, perhaps a desk drawer or box, to stash everything you will use on your commute. When the latest issue of your favorite professional journal arrives, add it to your designated commuting spot right away. Then, when you are ready to pull stuff together for your day’s commute, just pick from your goodie stash and go.
[Molly Luffy, MBA, founder of Work Ethic Wizard, works with individuals to accomplish their career goals and within organizations to create profitable, productive and pleasant work environments. She is the author of the award-winning Supercharge Your Promotion Quotient. For a free report on how to jump-start your career and make more money, visit the Work Ethic Wizard Web site.]