If you’re taking the bus or the train to work and back home each day, it can be stressful. It can be crowded, noisy, and you often have to deal with delays. So, it can be a challenge to find a moment of peace before your day starts or to wind down after a long shift at work.
Luckily, there are a number of ways to make your commute more relaxing and enjoyable. With just a couple changes, your can turn your daily commute into your favorite part of the day.
Check out these 5 tips for a more relaxing daily commute.
1. Listen to a podcast
Podcasts are a great way to make your commute more enjoyable. But, if you want to make your daily commute more relaxing, you can’t just listen to any podcast. Entertainment, comedy, or true crime podcasts can get you too hyped up and make your mind run a mile a minute. So, if you want a more calm and collected commute, you need to listen to podcasts created specifically for relaxation.
For instance, The Mindful Podcast will help you achieve a state of mindfulness with meditations, mindfulness practices, and conversations for modern conscious living. Other recommendations for podcasts that will make your commute more relaxing include Soul Music, which explores one song per episode and what it means to different people around the world, and Slow Radio, where you can listen to the relaxing sounds of birds, mountain climbing, monks chatting, and more.
2. Listen to classical music
Speaking of relaxing sounds, give classical music a try if you want to have a more relaxing commute. According to The Healthy, studies show that listening to classical music can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lower heart rates. In addition, listening to classical music can also increase the release of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine in your brain, which can reduce stress and help you feel more relaxed.
So, put on your headphones and listen to Mozart, Beethoven, Bach or Chopin. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to classical music, don’t worry. Spotify offers numerous classical music playlists; all you have to do is hit play and sit back and listen.
3. Bring an enjoyable activity along
Many people use their commute time to get extra work done; finishing their homework, checking their email, or putting the finishing touches on a work project. While those people may be using their commute time wisely, doing work on your commute isn’t very relaxing.
Instead of working on your commute, bring an enjoyable activity along. For instance, adult coloring books have become extremely popular in recent years because they allow people to switch off their brains and relax. If adult coloring books aren’t your thing, bring along a book of crosswords or Sudoku puzzles. Doing a fun activity will occupy your mind and your hands, which will result in a more relaxing commute.
4. Use aromatherapy on-the-go
According to VeryWellMind, research shows that aromatherapy can:
- Alter brain waves and behavior.
- Have beneficial effects on anxiety and depression.
- Reduce the perception of stress, increase contentment, and decrease levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone.”
- Provide stronger and more continuous relief from fatigue, especially mental fatigue, than massage alone.
So, if you want to have a more relaxing commute, you should use aromatherapy. Obviously though, bringing a large aromatherapy diffuser with you on public transit isn’t very convenient. Luckily, there are a number of portable aromatherapy diffusers on the market in the form of jewelry like bracelets and necklaces. With diffuser jewelry, you can use aromatherapy on your commute easily.
5. Unplug from social media
Finally, if you want to have a more relaxing commute, you need to unplug. Most people spend their daily commute scrolling through social media. But, let’s face it, there can be a lot of negative people on social media. Plus, according to a study published in the journal Computers and Human Behaviour, participants who used 7 or more social media platforms had increased levels of anxiety symptoms compared to participants who used 0-2 social media platforms.
For an anxiety-free commute, try to avoid checking social media. After all, you can always check your favorite social media platforms when you get home.
Get ready for a peaceful commute
With these tips, whether your commute is 30 minutes or an hour, you’ll be able to better enjoy your time before and after work. Plus, when you use your commute time for relaxation and rejuvenation, you can be more productive and happier in all areas of your life.