Daily commute feeling like a real slog? Here are 10 ways to make it a bit more bearable.
For most Aussies, the daily grind often involves spending time commuting. On average, Australians spend 54 minutes per day (both driving and using public transportation) for their daily commute.
While that doesn’t sound too bad, those valuable minutes stack up to a travel time of roughly 169 hours per year.
And with 75 per cent of commuters using private cars as their main way to get around, these eye-watering numbers don’t even include unexpected delays. Things like accidents, road repairs, and the typical afternoon traffic jam can significantly make your daily commute longer.
Bad news is, longer commutes are a known productivity killer. A study of over 34,000 employees found that those with commutes of 60 minutes or more lose at least a week’s worth of productivity compared to those with 30-minute commutes.
Another study of Australian commuters found that those with longer commutes take more unplanned absences than those with shorter commutes. People with shorter commutes also described themselves as “relaxed, calm, enthusiastic, and productive.”
Additionally, longer commutes can negatively impact mental well-being, increasing the likelihood of depression and work-related stress, as well as affecting physical health.
No matter how you slice it, commutes are never good for you. Even if you’re working just a few days in the office thanks to a hybrid model of work, you will still find the occasional commute time (and the frustration that comes with it) can rack up.
Commuting is a necessary evil in modern times, but there’s things you can do to make it less of a hassle and more of an enjoyable trip.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your driving commute, be more productive or simply change it up, here are 10 ideas to get you started.
1. Listen to music
Putting on some music is the easiest way to make the daily driving commute less of a chore and more of a joyride.
And thanks to modern technology, gone are the days of being subjected to just popular songs on the radio or looping the hits on the CD collection you have in your glove box.
Music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music give drivers access to a wide variety of music genres that can fit your mood!
Whether you’re feeling like singing at the top of your lungs to the infamous bridge of Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer , chilling to Hozier’s “Too Sweet”, drumming on the steering wheel to your favourite rock band or just travelling down memory lane with oldies but goodies, the options are endless.
The best part? You can create a custom mix of your favorite tunes or discover a new playlist for your daily commute and you won’t even have to touch the radio dial!
What music is best for driving?
Research shows that driving with the right music can have a good impact on your mental health. Music can reduce stress and symptoms of depression and improve cognitive skills, motor skills and spatial-temporal learning.
Aside from these benefits, listening to music has also been proven to lower blood pressure and pain and boost sleep quality, mood, memory and alertness.
If you’re in frustrating, stressful traffic, the right music can reduce your stress levels. Soft rock, easy listening or light jazz are also shown to improve your focus and concentration.
But beware! If you’re a hardstyle or techno fan, studies show that faster music can lead to faster, riskier driving. Music with higher beats per minute was observed to cause people to drive faster and underestimate their speed.
In some tests, faster music also caused weaving, disregard for red lights and increases in car collisions.
2. Connect with your friends and family
Your driving commute can be the perfect time to connect with your friends and family.
If you’re carpooling with a work friend, a long drive can feel like a short commute when you’re heading toward the office.
Car time can also go miles towards strengthening your family connection. Some parents even say getting stuck in traffic means family bonding time.
While it feels like ‘forced intimacy’ because there’s nothing much else to focus on, some busy parents say slogging their way through traffic has become the best way to keep in touch with their children.
This can mean talking or catching up on what’s going on in their lives, going for a drive-thru coffee or snacks or just singing together! (nursery rhymes, anyone?)
But if your commute means driving in a car alone, you can use your precious time to make phone calls that you’ve been meaning to catch up on.
For some people, it’s also a good time to schedule any meetings that don’t need your visual attention. Just make sure to keep most of your focus on driving!
3. Listen to your favourite podcast (or discover a new one!)
Some people don’t like talking on the phone with friends or family during their morning commute and treat it as their “me time”. For others, the drive itself is already distracting enough and it’s hard to get a word in when your eyes and ears are busy focusing on the road.
In these cases, maybe a podcast is the thing you need to make your commute more bearable.
Listening to podcasts is increasingly becoming popular among Australians. A study showed that about one in 10 out of 1,576 respondents listened to a podcast every day.
Australians are also tuning into podcasts more often. The percentage of people who listened to podcasts weekly increased from 26 per cent to 33 per cent year on year.
And it’s easy to see why. With podcasts now covering virtually every topic under the sun, almost anyone can find an enjoyable podcast to listen to. Or maybe you’ll even stumble on something that you might find interesting!
Listening to podcasts as a part of your driving routine has other benefits. It enhances your listening abilities and also helps you develop an appreciation for the art of attentive listening. In turn, this skill will improve your focus, retain more information and become a better listener.
4. Prep a “go bag” or “driving bag”
Pack a “go bag” stocked with essentials like phone chargers, sunscreen, bug spray, a first-aid kit, an umbrella, sunshades, hand wipes, sunglasses, water, and snacks.
You should also prepare anything you need for the commute the next day. This could mean packing your purse or bag, choosing an outfit, setting up the coffee machine or putting together your lunch in advance.
Having these items on hand eliminates last-minute scrambling and reduces stress as you head out the door.
Cutting down on these decisions can be good for your mental health, as research suggests our daily decision-making has a limited capacity. By prepping what you need in advance, you free up valuable mental energy.
5. Take the scenic route (if possible)
While scenic routes are not always the most convenient routes, taking the long winding road through the trees or near the beaches can be the breather you need during your driving commute.
A study by Environment International found that people who choose to commute through natural greenery to and from work scored an average 2.74 points higher on their mental health scores compared to those who did not commute through scenic landscapes.
Data also shows that sometimes, taking a longer route can significantly reduce stress during rush hour.
Research suggests that avoiding common delays during peak travel times can lower stress levels. So, don’t always choose the fastest route everyone else is taking. Adding just a bit more travel time could make your journey happier.
6. Listen to an audiobook
Author Stephen King describes books as “uniquely portable magic”, and it’s hard to argue with that sentiment.
Reading a book is a fantastic way to pass the time during public transport, such as a bus or train ride. A good book will take you anywhere you want to go without moving your feet, from the depths of the ocean to an entirely different dimension.
But if you’re driving, reading a book is not an option, nor is it recommended. But audiobooks can be a great alternative if you want a good way to pass the time and be while being stuck in traffic.
Signing up for one of the many audiobook services like Audible or Apple Books gives you access to a virtually unlimited library, with selections ranging from fiction to nonfiction books and everything in between.
But while audiobooks are a great way to become more well-read on the go, remember to use your judgment. Only listen to an audiobook if it will not be too distracting while you’re driving.
7. Have a snack or drink
Fueling yourself is just as important as fueling your car to have a good commute.
But with the rising cost of living, we understand the occasional fast food treat or drive-thru coffee can hurt the pockets. So, make sure to prepare a healthy and easy-to-consume snack or drink for your commute.
What’s more, being ‘hangry’ or being so hungry that you feel angry and/or frustrated has more impact on your driving than you think.
Research shows one in 10 drivers said driving while hungry impacts their ability to concentrate behind the wheel. Alarmingly, one in 10 drivers who were involved in a ‘near miss’ blamed it on their irritability caused by hunger.
8. Keep your car clean
Imagine starting your day with a cluttered desk at work. It wouldn’t exactly inspire productivity, right? The same principle applies to your car.
A grotty car interior full half-empty cups of coffee, crumble-filled servo napkins, and crumpled receipts can significantly impact your commute experience.
Driving in a cluttered environment can make anyone stressed and overwhelmed, especially during a hectic morning drive. But a clean, organised car interior will give you a sense of calm and control, helping to set a positive tone for the day.
To avoid getting overrun with clutter in your car, make cleanliness a priority. Set a few minutes to clean the interior of your car by clearing rubbish and vacuuming the floors. If you have time, take it in for a quick car wash.
You can also create a routine of binning your rubbish on the same day to maintain your car’s cleanliness. Being proactive in keeping your car clean can make your commute a lot better.
9. Practise mindfulness and meditate
Meditation involves more than sitting in a lotus seating position or closing your eyes. A long commute can be a good time to practise mindfulness and meditate.
Research suggests meditation can help us to de-stress, focus, sleep better, feel calmer, and lower blood pressure. Most importantly, it can improve our relationship with ourselves and others.
Meditation apps like Calm, Headspace, and Smiling Mind empower you to practice mindfulness anywhere, anytime.
These apps offer a variety of guided meditations designed to address your specific needs, whether you’re seeking stress reduction, focusing on breathing exercises, managing anxiety, or cultivating gratitude.
10. Pre-book a parking space!
One often overlooked part of the journey is the end. And even if you had an enjoyable drive to your destination, your good mood can easily get ruined when you find out there’s nowhere to park your car.
Finding a parking space can be frustrating, especially in high-demand areas. It can lead to wasting time and money – making the overall experience a pain.
One easy way to avoid the frustration of hunting for parking spaces is to book in advance. Online parking platforms and apps like Parkhound make it easy to do this.
Just search the location where you need parking, book a space that’s close to where you need it, and you’re all set. Plus, Parkhound has locations across major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and more!
But if it’s parallel parking that’s giving you a headache at the end of your commute, make sure to check out our step-by-step guide to do it right.
