This is Crazy - I Miss My Commute
After several weeks of living the work from home lifestyle, there are several things that begin to become apparent. One thing that I did not expect was the fact that I actually miss my commute. I am fairly fortunate, especially for where I live in the northeast region of the United States, that my daily drive time is about 30 minutes each way. In that time I am able to listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or just some music to ease into the day or decompress after a day at the office.
Now that I have discovered I miss my commute, and maybe many of you have experienced the same thing, how do we find that time again? For many people right now, the blending of every day of the week is common. Maintaining a routine becomes more important than ever. That start-up time and decompression time once reserved for the commute is not a missing piece. What are some options to realize those windows of time?
Schedule them
The first step is to realize you need those periods of time and that they are an important part of your day. As we have discussed before, planning those critical times is highly important. If you have a normal morning ritual you follow, keep that and build in the same time you would have been in the car, train, Uber, or bus for yourself. Block that time on your calendar and make a commitment to yourself to use that time the same way you would during your commute.
Have a list
You may already have a podcast playlist or audiobook wish list set up from your days in the car. If you don’t, start one now. Make sure each morning you know what you are going to do with that time. It doesn't have to be something you listen to, it can be the time you spend planning your day in a planner. If you are normally a driver, you can take the opportunity to switch to reading physical books or magazines. Regardless of the activities you choose, have them ready to go so you can jump right into it during the time you have scheduled.
Decompression
The end of the day may be even more important than the beginning. Having that time between your work world and your personal world can really help to mentally make the transition. This too needs to be scheduled and established. This will also help to ensure that you can define a separation between ‘work’ and ‘home’ that is currently blurred. Being able to make that transition between the two spaces will help to ensure you get the separation you need to maintain your health and sanity. Work from home doesn’t need to be a twenty-four-hour thing. (Note to self - read this paragraph again once a week.)
Working from home is not always as easy as it may have seemed. It is certainly nice to not have to deal with traffic, bad drivers, or delays, but that time creates a natural barrier between home and work that many might take for granted. None of us are sure how long this alternate reality will last, and ultimately it is going to define new levels of normal. In the meantime though, schedule the time you would have used for a commute to build in buffer space for yourself and those around you. This will be a win-win situation for everyone.
How are you spending your previous commute time?
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