Make your commute less miserable, why forgetfulness can be a good thing, and more top insights

What’s happening in the world of work: The Saturday edition of the Daily Rundown highlights the business trends, perspectives, and hot topics you need to know to work smarter. Read on and join the conversation.

How to make your commute less miserable: Instead of listening to music or reading a novel, we’re better off using our trip to the office to focus on our plan for the day’s work, according to a working paper from Harvard Business School. Our commutes are stressful in part because we are stuck between our home identity and our work identity. So, when we use our journey to plot out our goals, we show up at the office with our work identity intact. Such efforts can boost job satisfaction and dial down the desire to quit, the researchers found. ? Here’s what people are saying.  

A little forgetfulness at work can go a long way: The ability to shift our focus away from specific details can help us make better decisions at work, according to research from University of Münster and the Institute of Information Systems. In an experiment, sales teams that could rely on external sources of information — rather than their memories alone — made better economic choices. Such tools decrease our stress levels and allow us to devote more cognitive firepower to the big picture. But reaping these benefits heavily depends on our faith in the information we’re being fed, the researchers found.? Here’s what people are saying.

You Asked: “I feel like I’m stuck in an entry level position. What are some ways to break through to the next level?” —Travis Harrison, Denver, Colo.

• “The first step is to understand what the next level looks like. If you don’t already have a sense of that, ask your manager for a better understanding of the skills you’ll need. The next step is to find people who are doing that job and ask for their advice. After you hear what it takes, you need to put together a plan that allows you to practice and grow the skills that are lacking. So if you heard that your presentation skills need to improve, set that as a goal, identify opportunities to practice and then make a concerted effort to get feedback. The other question to ask yourself is whether there are opportunities to advance at your current company or whether you need to look elsewhere.” — Julie Zhuo, VP of product design at Facebook and author of The Making of a Manager
• "First, commit to professional development by building credibility through proficiency and competence. Remember, supervisors and managers are paying attention, and they make decisions based on performance, discipline, diligence, and professionalism. Use your time in your current position to strategically bring aspects of your 'next level' job into your current role. Make sure your work is completed, then volunteer for projects or assist your team with other tasks. In my company, we promote those who consistently exhibit empathy and care for our clients (both internal and external) with a 'can do' (and 'will do') attitude regarding projects or new opportunities." — Bill Wooditch, founder and CEO of Wooditch Enterprises and author of Fail More; Fail More: Embrace, Learn, and Adapt to Failure As a Way to Success
• Lisa Earle McLeod, executive advisor and author of “Leading with Noble Purpose”: “The first step in being promotable is to recognize what skills are essential for your job. You don't have to be perfect, but you do need to be good at the essentials. Being promotable means doing the job you have today well. It means being someone who meets deadlines, and it also means someone who communicates in a clear way and connects the dots between their job and the big picture.”

Looking for career advice from the pros? Submit your questions in the comments with #YouAsked and we’ll take care of the rest.

Our best allies may be our rivals: Not all competition is destructive. Friendly rivalries can boost success both in athletics and in the professional world, argues Wharton’s Adam Grant. Such competition can fuel productive motivation: The more our competitors thrive, the more we are inspired to succeed as well. Friendly rivals can also provide us with critical support; that’s because, in many ways, they understand and share our goals more than others. So, the next time you're looking for inspiration, turn to a rival. ? Here’s what people are saying.

The mighty benefits of taking tiny breaks: Taking microbreaks, from a few seconds to several minutes, can boost productivity and keep us engaged, according to a study from the University of Illinois. Such tiny breaks — making a cup of tea, doing a brief stretch or taking a stroll — can reduce stress, improve our concentration, and help us avoid work-related injuries. These voluntary rests help us build psychological detachment from our daily tasks, giving our brains a chance to recover by mentally distancing ourselves from work. ? Here’s what people are saying.

One last idea:  Even as our digital connections proliferate, a growing share of research has shown that more of us are feeling isolated and lonely. Quartz’s Jenny Anderson reminds us that developing such meaningful relationships requires us to calm our desire for instant gratification and embrace a long-term mission.

“Community is about a series of small choices and everyday actions: how to spend a Saturday, what to do when a neighbor falls ill, how to make time when there is none. Knowing others and being known; investing in somewhere instead of trying to be everywhere. Communities are built, like Legos, one brick at a time. There’s no hack.”

What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories in the comments.

— Scott Olster and Kelli Nguyen