How to Transform Your Commute into Something More Positive

The daily commute is often an inescapable and stressful part of modern life, that’s draining and unfulfilling. Find out how you can transform this time into a more productive, enriching and mindful part of your day.

Introduction

Travelling from A to B is something we share with most other humans. The time spent travelling can often feel like time wasted—time away from family, time taken away from living—especially if you have to commute on a regular basis (as this study shows).

The longer you commute the less happy you’re likely to be.

Geoff Muligan, author

The Daily Grind of Commuting

As a society, we have committed ourselves to moving vast numbers of objects and people from location to location every single day, in order to make the system function. Together, we perform a spectacular concert of movement that underpins everything else. But is there anything we can learn from our necessity for travel that can add meaning to our lives? The following meditation explores these questions as we join Philip on his way to a meeting.

After that, there is a practical exercise for you to follow, if you are wishing to make positive changes to your commuting experience.

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A Shared Journey: The Collective Experience of Travel

Note: The following narrative is designed as a form of guided meditation. For best results, relax, slow your breathing, slow your reading pace, and allow yourself to really experience and visualise the ideas contained within…

Philip had taken the junction off the Liverpool ring-road and was now on the motorway heading for Manchester. A flat-looking sports car undertook him at well over a hundred miles per hour. Philip watched it slink left and right into different lanes as it receded into the distance. Idiot!

Cruising at a steady sixty-five in a flow of speeding traffic, Philip scanned for a different radio station and glanced around at his fellow travellers. People from all walks of life—executives, holiday makers, sales people, lorry drivers, commuters—had come together in an elongated flock. People entered and exited the throng, a few at a time, as the junctions sped by. Some drivers passed either side of him, forwards or backwards, caught in different relative frames. But a handful flew in steady formation with Philip, becoming fleeting companions for however long it lasted, on their way to the next chapter of their lives.

Philip always felt a sense of camaraderie on the motorways. Fellow humans, plucked out from the land of the static—with its living rooms and offices and shopping centres—to be propelled along this vast artery that cut through the landscape, above and separate from it. Temporarily removed from society, inside the cosy bubble of his car, Philip felt like he was in a kind of hyperspace, whizzing along on this conduit outside normal time and space. His fellow motorway dwellers may have each come together for vastly different reasons and from very different origins, but right now, they were sharing this experience, together.

Observing Life from the Road

On the left, Philip could see an array of repeating streets, schools, factories, retail outlets, playing fields, satellite towns, pockets of trees and rare glimpses of rolling farmland with their hedgerow ribbons, all gliding past like a sprawling model museum. At speed, and viewed from above, none of it looked quite real. Glimpses were caught of people’s lives. Momentary dioramas, of people hanging out washing, polishing cars on driveways, ploughing fields, loading wagons, playing football in school playgrounds, parking outside office blocks, digging up roads, jogging into train stations, waiting at zebra crossings. People actually doing things.

Life on a grand scale was playing out before Philip, micro-scenes of personal dramas, sentences from some grand novel—and he keenly felt a sense of something larger than himself. This was society. This was the vast, interconnected instrument of which he was born into and was but a small part. It was that which offered people the hope of safer, healthier, longer lives. All this in return for the routines, the debts, the stresses and obligations that came with becoming a kind of human modular unit, performing different functions in different circles.

The Paradox of Modern Society

Sometimes society felt like a triumph, an orchestra of players coming together and contributing to a breathtaking, transcending symphony. Other times, it felt like a behemoth, out of control and with a mind of its own, ensnaring people’s entire lives to a purpose that was lost or opaque.

The traffic slowed slightly, contracting and thickening, increasing in viscosity as they approached a length of road under maintenance. No lay-by for four miles. Road-wide electric signs flashed their warnings: 40mph max.

Beside him, an articulated lorry rumbled past, the twelve-foot logo of a supermarket emblazoned across its side. Philip guessed at its contents. Identical cans of beans, breakfast cereal, and fresh fruit and veg, being distributed across the land to identical-looking outlets. He noticed the bored look on the driver’s face. He was fulfilling a thankless but essential job that kept the great, societal-instrument running. To the other side of him, a woman in a grey suit was deep in conversation on the phone, probably coordinating some component of a larger business she was bound to. Perhaps she was ordering more cans of beans to be manufactured. She did not look happy.

The Reality of Time Lost in Transit

For his part, he was heading to Manchester for a meeting about a TV show he was going to score the incidental music for. Twenty floors up, his colleagues awaited him in a large dark room with a cinema screen, a spread of futuristic editing control panels, and a grand piano. With Philip, they were going to thrash out some of the recurring themes and leitmotifs for each main character or setting. That’s if he made it there on time. At the heart of society, there beat a strict time-keeping device. Everything ran according to this internal clock; and if you couldn’t keep in step with the beat, like a violinist who can’t quite see the conductor, you would lose your place in the music. Sadly, the traffic was now dipping below thirty miles per hour; twenty…

The traffic had already condensed from an energetic gas into a sluggish liquid, and the mass of four-wheeled particles was threatening to freeze into a solid. Somewhere in Whitehall, this depreciated rate of speed could be expressed in terms of productivity and money lost from the economy. A blocked artery, reducing circulatory health. Somewhere behind those motorway cameras, there would be a dim control room filled with uneasy controllers.

Rising Stress and Anxiety

There was now a distinct possibility that Philip could be late for his meeting. He looked at his dashboard—his ETA was creeping upward. At this rate, he would make his appointment with only five minutes to spare, but that estimate was changing all the time. Somewhere down the line of metal and glass, Philip thought he saw the scattered reflection of flashing blue lights. His heart sank a little. Probably a crash. Maybe the idiot in the sports car.

Sure enough, after five long minutes of dwindling hope, the traffic finally came to a standstill. The woman in the suit had trundled ahead by a couple of cars, but Philip could still make out the silhouette of her frustrated hand gestures. The supermarket lorry was now firmly wedged between an Amazon lorry and a string of white vans, the front of which Philip could see in his mirror. It was driven by a tradesman—a window fitter—and his dashboard was strewn with chocolate wrappers, cigarette packets, and a crumpled coffee cup. He looked surprisingly happy and accepting of the situation, even Zen-like. With one hand on the wheel, and one elbow poking lazily out of an open window, he seemed to be enjoying the sunshine. His lanky apprentice scrolled on his phone, sullen.

On the right of Philip now was a family saloon filled with stressed and squabbling occupants. There were suitcases tied to the roof, and a woman in the passenger seat shouting down the phone to someone whilst rifling through what looked to be tickets. The driver stared, stony-faced, at the road in front of them. They were no doubt headed for Manchester international airport, and the hard-earned holiday they had been working towards all year was probably hanging in the balance.

Questioning Life Choices

Philip thought about the show producers he was scheduled to meet. The TV show itself was far from great. He’d read the script and seen the rushes. It was a sci-fi thriller—all action and impossible stunts. Slick and high-budget, but not much in the way of humanity and meaning. He would put his heart and soul into the music, but at the end of the day he knew it would simply provide the decorative trimmings on a visual box of chocolates. He made entertainment for the masses, for people like those that now surrounded him. They would get home after a long, stressful day, switch on the TV, and unwind with some trashy, fun, and unchallenging images.

Philip rehashed an old and familiar argument in his mind. Like a barrister, he posited the merits of producing mindless entertainment. It had its place. It served an important function in the societal machine. It helped to distract people from their daily worries and stresses. It helped them recharge their batteries. It retold the familiar social myths, tropes, and ideas that prop up a society’s cultural principles. And it paid too. Unlike opera or symphonies, it kept a roof over his head. But while the argument made sense, a quieter voice simply said “but it doesn’t fulfil you”. After all, how large a roof did one need?

Finding Fulfilment Amidst the Mundane

Minutes passed, with almost no progress. An ambulance managed to weave its way past with painful slowness. Philip texted his apologies to the producers in the dark room, said he’d reschedule if he couldn’t get there before lunch. He wouldn’t get there before lunch.

He took in a deep, refreshing breath. He opened his flask of coffee and reached for a manuscript pad. Flipping off the radio and putting down the windows, he smiled. The rhythmic sounds of modern life drifted in as a rich, complex blend. Engines of all kinds, strains of muffled drum beats, brake pneumatics hissing, an unseen passenger jet, and a group of swallows crossing overhead. As the breeze brushed his cheek, there was a sudden excitement in his belly, and a flutter in his heart.

With a feeling of sunshine in his chest, he put pen to paper and began sketching down musical thoughts for a new composition. A symphony.

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Conclusion

Sometimes in life, we enter into commitments that require us to find the time to make additional travel. It’s easy to underestimate the effect that time spent in transit has on our lives and well-being. It’s easy to question the meaning of it all when we find ourselves on the road to nowhere. But there are always choices available to us. Finding ways to cut down time spent between locations is an important consideration when it comes to structuring our lives to allow us to find fulfilment.

Practical Exercise: Transforming Your Daily Commute

While commuting often feels like a waste of precious time, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the practical structure of our weekly routine, or even our place within the larger tapestry of life.

By finding moments of connection, mindfulness, productivity and introspection on the road, we can turn even the most mundane journeys into a source of personal fulfilment and spiritual growth.

Objective:

This exercise is designed to help you find ways to make your daily commute less stressful, more productive, and more mindful. Additionally, it will encourage you to consider changes to your routine, job, or life-structure to reduce your commute time.

Materials Needed:

• Notebook or journal
• Pen or pencil
• Quiet space for reflection

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Step 1: Reflect on Your Current Commute

1. Write Down Your Commute Details:

• Describe your typical daily commute (e.g., mode of transport, duration, route, time of day).
• Note any specific stressors or challenges you encounter (e.g., traffic, crowded trains, long duration).

2. Identify Positive Aspects:

• List any aspects of your commute that you enjoy or that are positive (e.g., listening to music, scenic views, time to think).

3. Questions to Consider:

• How does your commute affect your mood and energy levels?
• What activities or thoughts occupy your mind during your commute?

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Step 2: Explore Mindfulness and Productivity Techniques

1. Mindfulness Techniques:

• Breathing Exercises: Practice deep breathing to stay calm and focused. Inhale deeply for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale for four.
• Mindful Observation: Pay attention to your surroundings without judgment. Notice details you usually overlook, and try and find pleasure in observing and contemplating the things around you.

2. Productivity Techniques:

• Learning on the Go: Use your commute time to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or language lessons. Use the guided meditations on this site, if you are not the active driver.
• Spiritual Reflection: There are always ways to turn “dead time” into opportunities for spiritual insight. Ponder on the larger philosophical questions, or try to experience the Tao of the moment, try and experience awe by opening your mind to the amazing things that happen all around us, learn how to meditate anywhere, and see everyday objects and settings in a new light.
• Planning and Reflection: Use this time to plan your day or reflect on your goals and achievements, or to visualise how your ideal weekly routine could look like.

3. Questions to Consider:

• Which mindfulness techniques can you incorporate into your commute?
• How can you use your commute time to further your personal or professional growth?

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Step 3: Redesign Your Commute Routine

1. Evaluate Alternative Routes and Modes:

• Research different routes or modes of transportation that might be less stressful or more efficient.
• Consider carpooling, cycling, or walking part of your commute to introduce variety and exercise.

2. Adjust Your Schedule:

• Experiment with leaving earlier or later to avoid peak traffic times.
• Consider flexible work hours or remote work options if available.

3. Questions to Consider:

• What alternative routes or modes of transportation could make your commute more enjoyable?
• How can you adjust your schedule to minimize stress and maximize productivity?

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Step 4: Assess and Adjust Your Job or Life-Structure

1. Evaluate Job and Location:

• Assess whether your current job location is optimal for your lifestyle.
• Explore opportunities for remote work, job transfers, or relocating closer to your workplace.

2. Set Goals for Change:

• Identify specific steps you can take to reduce your commute time or improve its quality.
• Set short-term and long-term goals to implement these changes.

3. Questions to Consider:

• Are there realistic changes you can make to your job or living situation to reduce your commute?
• What steps can you take to move closer to achieving a better work-life balance?

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Step 5: Implement and Reflect

1. Put Your Plan into Action:

• Start incorporating the mindfulness and productivity techniques into your commute.
• Try out the alternative routes, modes, and schedule adjustments you researched.
• Begin taking steps toward any larger changes in your job or life-structure.

2. Reflect on Your Progress:

• After a week, reflect on any changes in your commute experience.
• Note improvements in your stress levels, productivity, or overall satisfaction.

3. Questions to Consider:

• What changes have had the most positive impact on your commute?
• What further adjustments can you make to continue improving your commute experience?

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Conclusion:
Transforming your daily commute can significantly enhance your well-being and productivity. By incorporating mindfulness techniques, exploring alternative routes, adjusting your schedule, and considering larger life changes, you can turn your commute into a time of reflection, growth, and enjoyment. Keep reflecting on and adjusting your approach to ensure that your commute supports your overall quality of life.