According to a recent survey, the average commute time for a UK adult is a little over an hour a day, with 15% of respondents reporting journey times of 102 minutes or more. This is a lot of time to spend crossing the same ground each day – so what can you do to spice up your commute?
Change Your Transport Mode and Route
An easy way to make your commute a little more interesting is to change up the route; if you drive, plot out a scenic route and see more of the country on your way to work – or think about trying public transport for a different perspective on your commute. Whether you were previously a public transport user or are currently in ownership of an older vehicle, you could also consider upgrading your vehicle to reinvigorate your commute.
Get Active
An excellent way to shake up your commute is to incorporate exercise as a part of it. Maybe your work is close enough to cycle to, or even run to. As well as boosting your physical and mental health, adding exercise to your work commute can save you money and time in the long run – and also contribute to sustainability. Even if your work is enough of a distance away to justify driving, you could always put your bike or running gear in the boot, and drive to a different nearby location each time, in order to run or cycle the rest of the way from there to your work.
Use Your Commute Wisely
If your commute involves an extended period of time on public transport, you can utilise that time to your benefit. If you have any home-related tasks, such as switching energy suppliers, booking an online shop or sorting a household budget, do it en route to and from work to save you valuable free time when you get home. Alternatively, you can use the time to advance a new hobby, and read up on skills and techniques you’ll benefit from using in your free time. You can also use this time to further your work skills, for an easier life at your job or a faster route to progression.
Make it Social
Reach out to friends and colleagues about your commute. There might be an opportunity for you to share your commute with others – either in the form of a car-sharing system, planned use of the same public transport or even a group bike ride following the same route. This way you can catch up on valuable social time, and make your commute more of a fun experience.
Enjoy some entertainment
Your commute does not have to be an efficient one, or even a well-utilised one. Perhaps the simplest way to change up your commute is to allow yourself to enjoy it. Seek out an audiobook you’ve been intending to engage with for some time, or use your journey to explore new music and find a new favourite artist. Let your route to work be culturally enriching – you might find it boosts your mental health significantly.
