Courtney Devanna

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Five Ways to Make the Most of Your Commute

I have been commuting into the city from Long Island for more than five years. When I first started commuting, I was very much “woe is me.” My current commute (was longer when I first started out) is about an hour door to door, which really isn’t that bad and now I almost look forward to taking the train.

Here are five ways I make the most of my commute.

  1. Listen to podcasts: I love a good podcast. I love wellness related tips, professional development and motivational podcasts. A few of my faves include: The Skinny Confidential and Skimm’d from the Couch. I just subscribed to the Be Well by Kelly Podcast and I can’t wait to tune in.

  2. Meditate: If I don’t end up meditating before my commute, I do it on the train. I’ll listen to the daily Calm meditations (with the rain on leaves sound scene in the background) and it’s a great way to set the tone of the day. If for some reason the train is too loud, I just do the breathing exercises so I have just a few minutes to clear my mind.

  3. Read a book: I can get lost reading on the train. It's a great way to utilize the time on the train and sometimes I even wish I have a little more time to finish up a few pages. I’m currently reading The Mind Gut Connection

  4. Make a to do list: I usually use my notes app and Google calendar to make a list of personal things I want to get done for the day. I feel super productive and set reminders to make sure I’m carving out some time for my personal to-do-list, in addition to my work to dos.

  5. Music: And sometimes all I want to do is close my eyes and listen to some music. It either relaxes and energizes me for the day.

What are some things you do to make the most of your commute?