The Mindful Commute

How long is your commute? And how productive, or relaxing, is that time?

For some people the commute is a bit of a dead time where not much is done. Or for many people, its quite the opposite where we frantically flick through e-mails and mentally churn through thoughts, making phone calls whilst switching the radio between traffic news and music. We can end up getting to work or back home with a lot of additional mental clutter.

If you think your commute is a serene time of relaxation – really pay attention to how it’s making you feel, it might not be as relaxing as you think.

The hours or minutes we spend commuting to and from work are valuable. Rather than letting them go to waste on the frustrations of traffic congestion or the illusion of multitasking, use them to develop your focus and clarity.  

Here are some tips on how to commute mindfully:

Passive transport (passenger in a car, bus, taxi): Use the first 5 minutes and last 5 minutes to do your mindfulness practice. Pay full attention to your breath, letting go of any distractions.

Active transport: If you are riding a bike, driving car or anything where you are in control, then turn off the radio, your phone and your thoughts and give full awareness to your hands on the steering wheel, or you feet on the pedals. Be fully present with the experience of driving of cycling.

Commuting with mindfulness is a simple yet profound way to reclaim this time and spend it in a worthwhile way: on cultivating greater focus and clarity. It allows us to arrive at home, or work, with more presence and less stress.

Sarah Robertson & Rasmus Hougaard, Potential Project