The Commute Chronicles: Are You Lost In Transit?

Let me start on a presumptuous note that daily commute feels like a drag. The squishing on a crowded metro, moving at snail speed on the roads made for 70 kmph, or navigating pretty much non-existent sidewalks, worse the bumper- after-bumper traffic, most of us lose track of time in-between these mundanities of life.

What isn't a presumption is the capitalistic dream that is sold on the promise of productivity and on the over-burdened shoulders of a hustle culture. Is the hustle to get anywhere in life or limited to getting home only to do it all over again. A cruel Sisyphean loop. To many the daily commute feels like a betrayal. It is the bitterly undermined reality of countless hours lost to highways, sky walks, buses. For many it is a consequence and not a choice. Daily commute feels like a transactional existence, where life is measured in shifts, salaries, traffic flows, and timetables.

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But what if we look away from the existential drudgery and claim the sliver of this so-called unclaimed time?

Perhaps, when the British poet William Blake wrote," a world in a grain of sand," he meant to refer to the mundane rhythm of commute which if looked from a larger lens could be a self-improvement power hour. Apologies, this is hyperbolic. However, if you could entertain that thought for the next few minutes-imagine what we could do with the little me-time despite having to crawl through the smog-choked streets. Is mindfulness only possible when stationary?

Below, we break down 4 ways to turn your daily trudge into a ritual of growth and discovery.

Read Like Your Life Depends On It

Be it a physical book or audiobook, people have stopped reading books, even magazines, and newspapers. With AI wedging a silent war where it takes over our capacity to think, let alone read and analyse, there is growing necessity to go back to the roots and pick up a book.

Reading not only helps you expand your knowledge, but it also reduces stress and inspires creativity. One of the most effective ways to improve oneself by positively stimulating our cognitive function, helps develop critical thinking and significantly impacts our emotional and social well-being. We'd say, in a world of content cotton candy, grab a literary meal.

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Podcasts

If you are not one of those flaneurs, a good podcast on self-improvement can be engaging while you commute. When the world outside the window is a blur of traffic and tired faces, a deep dive into different topics can help de-stress.

Whether it is deep dive into philosophical questions, a comedy podcast, random self-help one, there's a podcast for everything these days to pick from.

Mindfulness

Unknowingly, we have been measuring our lives with the ticks of the indicator board or the bumper-after-bumper shuffles. Mindfulness could be a way to reclaim these simple moments. You don't need to meditate throughout your journey, or you might end up in a disastrous situation. LOL.

But its a chance to practice patience, especially when you are stuck due to a bottle neck situation. Engage yourself in breathing exercises, observe without reacting, and let your mind find its own quiet path. You'll be surprised that even a congestion cannot trigger you too much.

Journaling on the Go

For those relying on public transport to get to wherever you are going, your daily commute offers a perfect pocket of time. Journaling helps declutter your mind after a heavy work session. Carry a pocket diary or use apps like Notes on your smartphones.

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Jot down ideas, observations, your mood, what you liked and didn't like about your day. If you are driving, voice memos can be a great alternative- talk to yourself, set goals, unload what's on your mind.

Bonus Self Improvement Hack: Skill Building

If you still have the mental stamina and retention capacity to upskill yourself right after work, this one's for you. Tune into a masterclass on a skill you want to improve- vocabulary, AI, new hobbies, public speaking, whatever it is you feel you want to get better at.

End Note

There is a scene in The Catcher in the Rye where the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, feels lost and wanders talking about not knowing where the ducks in Central Park go when the lake is frozen. The commute often feels like that- aimless loop that has no resolution. But the truth is, every commute is a journey somewhere, even if it doesn't feel like it. By a simple act of actively engaging with yourself in those hours of minutes of the day, perhaps is the way to reclaim lost time. Far better than brain rotting obligation to social media that we endure than enjoy.

It is a simple reminder that life doesn't happen to you when you get there, it's happening to you now, on the bus, on the train, at the red light. Make it count.