According to a 2012 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, people with longer commutes had higher blood pressure, bigger waistlines, and were less fit than those who worked closer to home. Swedish research from the year before found that couples in which at least one partner commutes long distance are 40 percent more likely to separate than other twosomes. What to do? We turned to time-management guru Laura Vanderkam, author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and other experts for advice.<\/p>\n
1. They set that day\u2019s goals<\/strong><\/p>\n In a LinkedIn blog post, Thomas Oppong, author of Building Smarter Habits, notes that successful people begin with the end in mind\u2014they know what they wish to accomplish. \u201cStart your day by working on the projects that inspire you most and you will be more productive and achieve your goal faster whilst minimizing procrastination,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n 2. They make time for personal growth<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of defaulting to checking work email, Vanderkam recommends asking yourself, \u201c\u2018What do I want to accomplish? What can I do now that I\u2019m having trouble making time for elsewhere?\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cUse your commute for personal time.\u201d She frequently hears people miss reading for fun, and recommends audio or e-books. \u201cYou can \u2018read\u2019 the entire Odyssey in three weeks,\u201d Vanderkam notes.<\/p>\n 3. They use the time as exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n One Archives of Internal Medicine study a few years ago found that the 16 percent of commuters who walked or biked to work were less likely to be overweight and had healthier levels of blood pressure, triglycerides, and insulin. Work may improve too: In one British study, employees reported being more productive on days they exercised compared to days they didn\u2019t. If you can only swing it once a week, that\u2019s better than never. For rail or bus riders, get off a few stops early for a bonus 15-minute stroll.<\/p>\n 4. They take their time getting from A to B<\/strong><\/p>\n It sounds counterintuitive\u2014wouldn\u2019t you want your travel time to be as short as possible? Productivity coach Hillary Rettig has a surprisingly different perspective. \u201cWhen people are commuting, they\u2019re most likely rushing,\u201d she told FastCompany.com, and that act will lower happiness and increase stress. \u201cLeaving early is empowering,\u201d says Rettig. \u201cYou have more of a sense of control. For example, you can stop and pick up coffee on the way if you wish. You\u2019ll immediately feel a sense of relief.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. They network and socialize<\/strong><\/p>\n Carpooling isn\u2019t just about saving on gas and tolls. Although scheduling may be challenging, \u201cdriving to work with a friend turns wasted time into a date,\u201d says Vanderkam, noting that even a little inconvenience may be worth the mood-boosting effects you\u2019ll reap. If your fellow passenger is a mentor whose brain you can pick, or a colleague you can discuss work projects with, Vanderkam noted on Oprah.com, your commute can even improve your work productivity.<\/p>\n 6. They get smarter<\/strong><\/p>\n Successful commuters seek mental enrichment from downloaded university coursework; Vanderkam likes the accessible lectures from The Great Courses, which are taught by credentialed college professors. \u201cLanguage has been around longer than writing. Listening is how we originally learned,\u201d notes Vanderkam, who once listened to most of Shakespeare on a filing job at a reference library<\/p>\n 7. They actively seek inspiration<\/strong><\/p>\n Listening to and observing those around you generates ideas that could help your work\u2014especially for creative types. \u201cBy simply keeping your eyes and ears open while you travel, you can get a grasp of what people are reading\/wearing\/listening to,\u201d notes Paul Ellet on the popular Successful Blog, adding that \u201cthis kind of rough insight can also help your approach, simply by giving you tips for conversation to break the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n 8. They enhance their romance<\/strong><\/p>\n No time for date night, or bored with traditional romantic ideas? If you and your partner can drive to work together\u2014and again, it doesn\u2019t have to be every day\u2014then that quiet time helps you two reconnect away from the kids, errands, and housework.<\/p>\n 9. They bond with their kids<\/strong><\/p>\n Does your commute start with dropping the children off? Celebrate that time instead of treating it like another To-Do in the daily grind, says Vanderkam. Enjoy having random conversations (when neither of you is on the phone), singing along to the radio, or really listening to them without being distracted by schedules or chores.<\/p>\n 10. They work out the details for the big picture<\/strong><\/p>\n What\u2019s the next major move coming up in your life? The solitude of a solo car commute is idea for practicing an important presentation or preparing for a tough conversation like negotiating for a raise or trying out answers for tricky job interview questions. \u201cYou only get one chance, so carefully rehearse what you want to say,\u201d says Vanderkam. While commuting, you can also think up and articulate responses to potential questions or problems to cut down on surprises.<\/p>\n 11. They plan for inevitable delays<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes us stressed is not having a plan,\u201d says Vanderkam, noting that the worst parts of commuting are those out of your control, like traffic or a stalled train. Successful people email an assistant or colleague that they\u2019re running late; if you do, too, it can make you feel less tense and anxious as the minutes tick by. If you\u2019ll be really late, mentally re-prioritize what needs to get done immediately so you can get to it as soon as you reach the office.<\/p>\n 12. They organize the night before<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of sprinting to the door in a morning panic (\u201cwhere are my keys?\u201d), successful people carve out 15 minutes at night to prepare for the next day. Set up breakfast, pack lunches, get your work bag organized, pick out your and your kids\u2019 outfits, and track down your keys. If you leave the house feeling organized and calm, your commute will be smoother, too. Also try these morning habits of successful people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Reader’s Digest and was written by Lauren Gelman<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" According to a 2012 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, people with longer commutes had higher blood pressure, bigger waistlines, and were less fit than those who worked closer to home. 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