We talk a lot about working from home and virtual officing here at our Boston office rental space. And while there are several reasons the home office is a great idea- one of the most appealing factors is avoiding the dreaded commute. On average, Americans spend 50 minutes commuting every day, whether by car or some alternate mode of transit. And here in Boston, the numbers are even higher. That amount of time adds up quickly and can actually have some pretty serious effects on your body and mind. But since we can’t all work from home every day, here are some steps you can take to make your Boston commute more bearable and perhaps even productive.
Think outside the box-
Do you live only a few miles from the office? Have you ever considered walking / running / biking into work? Light exercise is one of the most energizing ways to start your morning and you could check something off your to-do list just by going to work. If it’s not feasible to go the whole route on foot, maybe bike to the train or have your carpool pick you up a few miles from your house. Boston was recently voted one of the most walkable cities in the country, so now you really have no excuse.
Set your goals for the day on your commute-
We all have dozens of things we want to accomplish every day- some professional and some personal. Try using your commute to get those goals organized so you’re more prepared to start the day. If you’re looking for an app to help you, we suggest coach.me or Evernote (which has a great dictation feature if you’re driving). Coach.me provides accountability for the goals that are hard to keep tabs on- such as practicing Spanish vocabulary, going for a walk, and remembering to show gratitude.
Take a class –
Use your 50 minutes everyday to take a class on a topic completely new to you- like engineering or self publishing. The Great Courses and Edx are great resources for those life long learners out there.
Learn a language-
Brush up on that rusty high school French with fun language apps like Duolingo, which integrates games and rewards to keep you motivated. Parlez-vous, anyone?
Listen to a new podcast-
There are dozens of worthwhile podcasts out there on topics ranging from history to comedy to current events. Some office favorites include: Radio Boston, Planet Money and the Startup Podcast.
Meditate-
Take a break from your phone and start your workday with a little more focus and intention. Meditating is a great way to counteract the stress your commute might normally cause you. Maybe just close your eyes and take a few deep breaths or listen to a guided meditation with headphones. Either way, a few minutes of relaxation can do wonders for your state of mind going into and leaving work.
However you commute, there are always things you can do to make lemonade out of what might otherwise be seriously boring lemons.
Contact us at Boston Offices to learn more about our centrally located offices and tips on how to commute here. 617-419-7100