Commuting can be an interesting experience. Some people think of it as the worst part of the day – cramming yourself into a busy train, or putting up with traffic jams into town – but some people look forward to it as a chance to relax on the way to and from work. Don’t you wish you were one of those people? Don’t we all? Here’s how:
1. Plan ahead.
If you’re starting a new commute – for a new job, a new office, or just to shake things up – plan it out on a map, or do a practice run the weekend before. Yes, this is common advice, but there’s a good reason for that: finding out the traffic obstacles, not to mention making sure you don’t get lost, means you’ll be far more likely to have a stress-free commute when you begin. Just remember that if you do try out your new journey at a weekend, bus and train timetables might be different on Monday morning. Check it out in advance, and plan accordingly.
2. Pack the night before
Nobody wants to be the person who sprints for the bus, or waits half an hour for a train, only to rummage through their bag and realise they’ve left their travel card on the kitchen worktop. Every night, make sure you pack the things you’ll need when you leave the house, or else make a check-list to tick off before you leave. Travel card. Keys. Change for the bus. Whatever you need, make sure you’ve got it covered.
3. Bring something to read
If you’re the sort of person who can read on buses and trains, think about bringing a book or a newspaper, or even an audiobook, if you prefer. A long morning commute can be a good time to relax before the start of the day, or to catch up on what’s going on around the world. We don’t recommend if you cycle to work, though.
4. Bring headphones
There’s no getting around it: if you commute to work, you will sometimes encounter some noisy people. Whether it’s someone listening to their own music too loudly or someone over-sharing with a friend (and with the rest of the bus) about their life, there will be times when you need headphones. Bring them to make your commute a relaxed experience.
5. Be considerate
There’s nothing to get your day off to a good start than being considerate to your fellow commuters. If you’re on a crowded bus and there’s space, make room for someone to sit down next to you, before they have to ask. You’d hope for the same from them, and if everyone’s happy, you’ll have a much more chilled out commute, and start the day in a better mood.
6. Be safe.
Commuters often take the strangest, most dangerous risks with their personal safety, just to cut a few minutes off their dash to work. Ask yourself this: if the light is red, do you absolutely need to run out in front of that bus to make it to work on time? Do you need to throw yourself onto a train as the doors close, if the next one will be here in three minutes, anyway? In the end, it’s not worth it. Be patient. If you’re constantly running late, think about leaving yourself more time in the morning.
Enterprise are always on the look out for graduates who plan ahead and make the most of their day, so if you’ve got a positive attitude and a head for time management, check out our graduate opportunities and internships today, for the best commute you’ll ever make.