Yes! There Are Ways to Improve Your Commute!

We already know we’ll face skeptics and that’s ok.  If you’ve ever driven to or from work in the madness we call affectionately call…well, never mind what we call it…  Let’s just say if you’ve ever driven to or from work or school on any road leading into or out of DC, Maryland, or Virginia – your commute is probably one excruciating minute after the other until you finally reach your destination some 45 minutes to an hour later (and in some cases, much longer than that).

It seems that very few people actually keep up with the flow of traffic.  Well, who are we kidding?  There is rarely a flow of traffic but rather a few opportunities to quickly pass a driver who’s driving 10 or so miles under the speed limit…in the far left lane no less.  Breaking free from the oppressive and slow pace feels good for the eight seconds you have before you hit the back end of a delay that ultimately had no root cause.  You know those delays where you inch along for twenty minutes and then – ALL OF A SUDDEN! – you’re back at speed like, “What in the name of Sweet Baby Jesus was the hold up?!”

If you manage to get through all of this…the dump trucks that have a terminal velocity of 45 miles per hour, the out-of-towners who are a little nervous to be driving with us maniacs, and those who’ve just passed their driving test…you’ll probably arrive to your destination angry, white-knuckled, frustrated, and not in a very good mood.  It’s understandable.  It happens to the best of us.  Every. Single. Day.  BUT! The good news is, Family & MWR has found a few ways to help you get through your commute.  No, we don’t have jet packs and we can’t approve telework (sorry!) but if you’ll just drink the kool-aid and try one or two of our suggestions, you may arrive to your final destination a little more relaxed and maybe even just a little bit smarter.

Carpool

Don’t face the madness alone!  Find a few people going your way and set up a carpool.  You’ll only have to drive one week out of the month, but that’s ok.  When it’s your turn to drive, you’ll have people in the car you can talk to to help keep your mind off of the traffic.  When it’s not your turn to drive, you can spend your commute sleeping, catching up on email, or providing your own brand of comic relief for the driver.

Wake Up Earlier

Granted, this is not anyone’s favorite thing to do but in reality the best way to improve your commute is to avoid driving when everyone else is on the road. There’s another benefit to leaving home earlier.  You get off from work earlier!

Listen to Music

“Music soothes the savage beast” or driver in this case.  Make a playlist of your favorite songs from this decade or a past one and get your jam on while you drive to work.  You’re a lot less likely to communicate with hand gestures if you’re singing to a favorite song.

Catch Up On Your (audio) Reading

Originally produced in the 1930’s for those with sight challenges, audio books became mainstream in the 1990’s.  I can remember being huddled in a living room chair listening to Kathy Bates read “Silence of the Lambs.”  Her version of that story is beyond creepy.  If horror thrillers aren’t your cup of fava beans, there’s a subject in a genre written by an author you will love!  …and FYI, the JBM-HH Library has a ton of titles for you to download!

Learn a Language

While many of us are still learning English, we have to admit that English is no longer the language of the world.  The internet has brought Mother Earth and her citizens into close contact with each other.  With that being said, the time has come for us to refresh, refine, and hone our high school Spanish, German, or French…or your Serbian if you’re married to a Pejcic.  Again, the JBM-HH Library has access to FREE language software that you can use on any mobile device to learn a new language.  Learning to “parla italiano” will be easier without the distractions of children, pets, and phones and your commute is the perfect place to find quiet time.

Get an (unofficial) Education

Ancient Rome, nuclear physics, World War II history – in today’s world, there’s an online lecture series for almost any interest.  Many university websites offer free online audio classes or you can download courses through Apple’s iTunes U Courses.  iTunes U courses are regular college classes minus the credits.  Professors have recorded their lectures for anyone to listen to so there is ample brain-bending material to listen to during your commute.

Make a Mental Gratitude List

Many people believe that the universe will only gift you with things you are thankful for.  Take time during your commute to make a mental list of those things and people you’re grateful for.  It’s kind of hard to be a road-rager if you’re counting blessings.  …and be sure to make mention of those blessings that are on the way!

Listen to a Podcast

These wonderful little gems are a hidden treasure.  No one seems to be listening to podcasts but they’re awesome!  A podcast is an audio broadcast that is distributed over the Internet. It usually has a format similar to a radio show. Because little equipment is needed to record a podcast and the Internet is used as the distribution medium, virtually anyone can create one and distribute their thoughts and opinions to the world and just like online courses, the range of topics is staggering!  You can listen to a podcast about history, travel, or any other subject discussed in a serious tone or in a humorous way.  Visit one of these sites to search for interesting podcasts to follow:  Revision3, Mevio, the iTunes store, or gPodder.

Here are a couple of podcasts we’ve heard a lot about:
* The Nerdist – Nerds. Interviewing people like Jason Alexander.
* The Art of Manliness – Be a (better) man. 
* Serial – One big story told one week at a time.
* Completely Optional Knowledge – The show that answers questions you never knew you had.
* Surprisingly Awesome – The hidden awesomeness in everyday things

Ok, so, we know commuting - as a rule - is not cool.  People don’t seem to be following the same rules of the road. A twenty-five minute drive can quickly turn into an hour long drive, or longer depending on the weather.  Unfortunately, we can’t really do anything about that.  But we can do things that help us deal better with the people we have to share the road with and use what time we have to spend on the roads in a beneficial way.  We hope you find one or two things on this list that will help you better enjoy your commute!  …and please leave a comment below if you have a way to improve our commute that we didn’t list!