Last year I lived in a large city with a daily 90-minute one-way metro ride, and actually grew to love this big chunk of time where I could do whatever I wanted. To entertain myself and avoid mindless Instagram scrolling, I tried lots of different activities, some of which turned out to be better for commuting than others. Here’s a rundown:
Good for when you’re tired and can’t function, as it’s very passive. Can be suited to any mood. But I’m always tempted to sing along, which I’m sure the other passengers would definitely appreciate.
Like wallets and pop cards, reading and commuting go hand in hand. You can relax and lose yourself in another world far, far from this damn bus. Reading is one of those things that only becomes fun if you do it regularly, so it’s perfect for a daily bus ride.
Good in theory but not in practice. Though activities like knitting or crochet are more feasible, the skill level required in a wobbly vehicle is pretty high – and anything involving a pen is a no-go. Too risky.
Likewise, you need a steady hand, but if you somehow have one, this is a great time-saver. Tell me your secret. But please note: anything like hair brushing or nail-clipping, where you could leave pieces of yourself behind, no thank you.
No, no, no. Not the time, not the place. Don’t let stressful things like work invade your precious commuting time; work belongs to uni and working hours, no more, no less. Also, this is logistically difficult, because you most likely need wifi, a laptop, charger, space etc. But even if you have the luxury of a whole train table, under-seat plugs and, by some miracle, an internet connection, just out of principle, no.
Also potentially a good time saver, but has to be chosen and executed with care. Noisy or smelly food is a great way to piss everyone else off, and messy food is a nightmare for you. Can also get expensive if you buy it every day.
One of the most underrated commuting activities. This is very route-dependent, but sometimes the countryside outside can be beautiful, and the houses, streets and shopfronts zooming past can be fascinating. It borders on meditative. But it works best if it’s a new commute, as it can quickly get boring.
Duo, it’s your time to shine. Commuting is pretty much exactly what the app is intended for. It turns out that replacing scrolling with actually learning something does work, as my passable Italian proves. Che bello.
The winners: reading and Duolingo
The loser: working