The morning commute can be a great time for personal development. If you’re looking to improve yourself, you can do several things during your morning commute. This blog post will give you tips on maximizing personal development during your commute. We’ll also provide a list of suggested personal development podcasts. And finally, we’ll recommend some apps that can help improve your effectiveness during the morning commute.
Common statistics about the average morning commute
The average morning commute lasts approximately 25 minutes. Most people are either listening to music, podcasts or working on their phones during that time. The average worker commutes eight hours per week, or 200 hours annually, which is a lot of time for personal development. A twenty-minute increase in commute time makes workers as unhappy as a 19% cut in pay.
What personal development activities can you do during your commute?
You can do many personal development activities during your commute to work. Here are my top options to maximize your commute time for personal development.
1. Listen to podcasts
Listening to podcasts is a great way to improve your morning commute. You can learn new things, get motivated, and improve your skills by listening to podcasts.
2. Listen to audiobooks
Improve your morning commute by listening to audiobooks and maximize personal development time. Not only will you gain knowledge and improve your skills, but you’ll also be able to relax and take a break from the daily grind.
3. Sit in silence
Sitting in silence is the best way to improve your morning commute. This will allow you to focus on your own thoughts and feelings. Make sure to use this time to reflect on your goals for the day and how you can achieve them.
4. Brainstorm solutions to the problems you are solving
One way to use your morning commute for personal development is to brainstorm solutions to the problems you are solving. This can help improve your focus and productivity. A great way to do this is by using an app to record your ideas.
5. Call your mom
One of the best things you can do is call your mom. Connecting with your loved ones is a great way to improve your mood and start the day off on the right foot. Plus, it’s a great way to catch up on what’s going on in their lives.
6. Me time and self-care
If you’re having trouble finding time for yourself outside of work, try using your morning commute as an opportunity for self-care. It might seem small, but taking some time for yourself can make a big difference in your day-to-day life.
7. Try different routes to work
If you’re like most people, you probably have a pretty set routine regarding your morning commute. You may wake up at the same time each day, eat the same breakfast, and take the same route to work. Switching things up now and then can be helpful. By trying different ways to get to work, you can expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives you may not have otherwise encountered. You may also find that certain routes are faster or more efficient than others. Maximize your morning commute for personal development by shutting off your autopilot.
8. Learn a new language
Learning a new language is an excellent option if you’re looking for a way to improve your personal development during the morning commute. You can become competent in a new language if you do a few lessons during a commute every day.
Podcasts to listen to for personal development during your daily commute
Podcasts offer a great way to spend your morning commute time. They can help improve your knowledge and keep you entertained on your way to work.
There are a variety of podcasts out there on a variety of topics, so you’re sure to find one that interests you. Plus, listening to podcasts can spark creativity and provide ideas you can implement at work.
So, if you’re looking for something new to listen to during your commute, here are a few of our favorite podcasts:
Starfleet Leadership Academy – Leadership Through Star Trek
Jeff Akin breaks down each episode of Star Trek, pointing out examples of great leadership, management, lean/six-sigma, communication, and more. This podcast is full of ideas on how to lead better.
Blue Collar Leadership
Leadership development for everyone in the blue-collar workforce, those who support them, and those who lead them. Even if you aren’t in the blue-collar workforce, Mack Story provides great leadership lessons. Spend your morning commute with Mack Story for personal development.
The Mindset Mentor
Host Rob Dial shares his expertise and passion for helping motivate people to become the best version of themselves. The episodes are short but will leave you feeling motivated to tackle the day.
CFO THOUGHT LEADER
CFO THOUGHT LEADER is a podcast featuring firsthand accounts of finance leaders who are driving change within their organizations. Finance is fun, or so they say. Get inside the minds of CFOs to gain a bigger picture of how organizations function.
Maxwell Leadership Podcast
The Maxwell Leadership Podcast is a regular examination of what it means to be a transformational leader—someone who daily influences people to think, speak, and act to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others.
WorkLife with Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to discover the keys to a better work life.
Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast offers personal, practical coaching lessons that take the mystery out of leadership.
Coaching for Leaders
Dr. Dave Stachowiak brings perspective from a thriving, global leadership academy, plus more than 15 years of leadership at Dale Carnegie.
After Hours
Harvard Business School professors discuss and debate current events that sit at the crossroads of business and culture. Youngme Moon, Mihir Desai, and Felix Oberholzer-Gee engage in a spirited discussion on a range of topics torn from the headlines.
Lead to Win
On Lead to Win join Michael Hyatt and CEO Megan Hyatt Miller as they discover how current research combines with timeless wisdom for lasting success.
Recommended apps to help with personal development during your daily commute
Here are several great apps that can improve your effectiveness and help your personal development during the morning commute.
- Wunderlist is among the best to-do list apps.
- Google Keep Quickly capture what’s on your mind and get a reminder later at the right place or time. Speak a voice memo on the go and have it automatically transcribed.
- Coach.me lets you set personal and professional targets, get reminders, and share your achievements with a community.
- Duolingo is a fantastic app for your commute that makes learning languages fun. Each lesson is short, painless, and super visual.
- Audible has the world’s biggest selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and listenable programming. You’ll find something for your morning commute.
- Insight Timer is excellent for me time and self-care during your commute. You can set a timer for the window you have to meditate and select a combination of ambient sounds to use in the background.
- Google Recorder Recorder brings the power of search to audio recording. Recorder automatically transcribes and labels what you record so you can easily find the parts that matter to you.
- Google Assistant is an easy way to use your phone and apps hands-free, so it is an ideal companion for your daily commute. It can help you set reminders and alarms, manage your schedule, look up answers, navigate and control smart home devices while away from home.
Tips on how to make the most of your commuting time
The morning commute can be an excellent time for personal development if you know how to make the most of it. There are plenty of activities that you can do during your commute to improve yourself as a person. You can listen to podcasts, list to audiobooks, or use apps to help improve your effectiveness. Maximize your daily commute time by filling that time with personal development. Here are some final tips to improve your daily commute:
- Make a list of personal development goals you would like to achieve. This could be anything from learning a new skill to networking with professionals in your field.
- Download productivity-enhancing apps such as Google Keep or Wunderlist to help keep you on track throughout the day.
- If you’re driving, use audiobooks or podcasts to improve your knowledge and understanding of various topics.
- Try to leave a bit earlier so that you can spend some time relaxing before work begins. This can be anything from reading a book to walking around the block.
What suggestions do you have to maximize the daily commute? Add them in the comments below!
