Getting Home Sane After a Crazy Commute

Commuting to work can be the worst, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating. It’s easy to end up going into work frazzled and frustrated. Recently, I went from a commute of 5 minutes to one of 30 minutes. At first, I was dreading it, but then I decided to use that time in the car wisely and implement strategies to help me keep it together.

First, I researched and found some great podcasts. My two favorite are The Read and 10% Happier. The Read is fun and I can relate to the topics so much. 10% Happier teaches about meditation (which I also practice) and even had an episode that was a meditation to use while you drive. It doesn’t matter what you listen to, just find music or podcasts that you really enjoy to help pass the time and that support the type of mood you hope to be in when you arrive at work.

Next, I decided that I wouldn’t try and rush. It really makes no sense, since any rushing I do won’t get me to work that much faster anyway. Plus it’ll cause frustration and put me at risk of a ticket which will only make my day worse. At first, I would only get in the left lane and cruise. No matter how slow, I would not allow myself to merge unless it was unavoidable. Now, I can go around when needed without feeling like I’m in the rat race.

Do an experiment for me. Look around the next time you’re driving during morning rush hour. You’ll see a lot of mad and miserable people. It’s sad really. I choose not to be one of them.

Lastly, practice responsible habits so you’re not always late for things. Being late naturally makes us feel rushed and chronic lateness can set us up for reactionary patterns. We’re all late sometimes, so don’t feel bad if it happens, just don’t let it become a thing.

It’s not that hard to turn your daily commute into a time of solace for yourself. I often use this time to think, learn, or relax after work. It’s all about having a positive attitude and setting up some simple things beforehand to make the drive a little less stressful.

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