On the Road: How to Stay Productive During Commute

On the Road: How to Stay Productive During Commute

You know the feeling that follows a holiday when returning to the workplace for the first time. The one when, after having recently completed a hectic week of socialising and attending meetings, you look at your schedule, unopened emails, and to-do list and feel absolutely overwhelmed. That one, yes. That is the feeling we are attempting to ease with this piece. We’ll give you pointers on how to be as productive as possible while riding the bus so that you aren’t utterly overwhelmed when you return to work as usual. 

  1. Planning with a focus on efficiency

Planning ahead is the most crucial step in making the most of your commute time. Evaluate your list of tasks and choose the ones that are most feasible to do during your daily commute. To choose such tasks, we recommend utilising the SMART concept. SMART is an acronym for “Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-bound.” You should be able to apply these adjectives to the items you choose from your to-do list.

  1. Road-motivation

Just exactly how does someone maintain motivation when commuting? As we’ve already shown, a sense of accomplishment is a powerful driver of more success. That’s why it’s crucial to break up big goals into smaller tasks that are more manageable. Why do individuals put accomplished items on a checklist only to cross them off? because it is satisfying! You are motivated to check off the other items. So organise your tasks in such a way that you can check them off one by one and feel a sense of accomplishment even as you do so.

  1. Check unread messages

Whether it’s your mailbox, Slack, or any other work messaging platform, your commute time is an excellent opportunity to respond to texts. Research shows that attending to messages in the morning sets you up for a productive day. 

  1. Mentally prepare for the day

It’s possible to leverage your commute time to get ahead of the day’s schedule. If you’re giving a presentation, rehearse it and polish it up. If you have an important meeting, do your homework so you can confidently present your ideas and viewpoints.

  1. Immerse yourself in industry-related materials

You have the choice of reading industry-related publications or listening to webinars, podcasts, and audiobooks. Consider purchasing an e-reader like a Kindle if you dislike carrying around books or magazines. This allows you quick access to a variety of publications, and you can even bring your full e-library with you.

  1. Pause and reflect

Being a highly driven professional makes it very challenging to maintain a work-life balance. Still, it’s critical to keep in mind that regardless of how innovative your ideas are or how vibrant your work is, you as a person are the engine for every effort you push forward. Everyone should thus make an effort to align themselves and assess their present state. A commute can be a great opportunity for critical self-reflection when you can take stock of your mental and physical health, identify areas of your life (professional or personal) that are giving you concern(s), and think about ways in which you might make positive adjustments.

  1. Take a break

Taking frequent breaks can help you stay productive and will keep your mind clear so you can think creatively. If you’re in the zone, however, keep working. But if you experience a downturn, your best course of action could be to rest (if only for a little while).

While these techniques are a fantastic place to start, it is largely up to you to choose the structure, system, and routine that enables you to thrive throughout your commute to or from work. Also, remember that you’re able to fully utilise these tips from the comfort of a Shuttlers bus. Your comfort and well-being are our top priorities.

Shuttlers is a mobility company that’s tackling the transportation challenges in metropolitan cities by leveraging technology. Through Shuttlers, businesses and individuals access comfortable yet affordable transportation through an efficient scheduled bus-sharing system. This also provides a safer ride-sharing alternative, especially for female commuters, and opportunities to reduce the number of privately driven cars on the road during peak hours.

Shuttlers’ mission is to make metropolises more liveable by transforming how people commute around the world by building a global partner network and connecting communities of Shuttlers.