I was the queen of Commute complaining before I started working from home. Living in a city that likes to keep you guessing with its weather doesn’t help. But there were a few things I found to make life a lot easier. Here are my tips on how to make the struggle less real.

1. Treat it as “me time.” If you’re driving alone, see it as a chance to blast whatever you want on the radio, or to laugh out loud at your favorite morning show. If you’re on the train or bus, plug in some headphones and jam out, listen to a podcast or even meditate. One thing I did every morning on my way in to work was check The Skimm for a quick news update. Most people keep to themselves on public transit, so it’s easy to not be disturbed. Try to think of it as a moment of calm, before you get to the office.
2. Take advantage of free apps. One of my favorite things to do on my bus ride home, was to pop open Pinterest for meal planning inspo. I would take the time to plan out my dinners and lunches for the week, save my favorite recipes, and list out any needed grocery items. I would also update the My Fitness Pal app with my workouts, meals and water intake for the day. I’d also fill out my Notes section with my to-do’s for the day. 
3. Old school: read a book. Just call me Hermione – I love books. I actually found my train commute to be one of the best times that I had to get through a good chunk of my latest one. Pick up a mystery like Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, and I promise you’ll be so into it you’ll miss your stop…like I did, more than once! If you’re driving, pop in an audiobook for a break from music. I listened to Joel Osteen’s Everyday a Friday on repeat to keep my mood up during long drives.
4. Prep the night before. The worst commuting days were the ones where I was caught unprepared. Rain without an umbrella, snow without boots. I always took a few minutes the night before to check the weather, set out my clothes and pack my bag. I’d also lay out separate walking shoes and office shoes. That way I wasn’t leaving the house without my weather essentials as I was rushing out the door. I also kept a spare outfit at work in case of a weather emergency, after once getting caught in a sudden downpour during a lunchtime walk. 
5. Make it social. If you’re not feeling #1 and like to chat it up during your commute, grab a fun buddy. Car rides are so much better and less stressful when you have someone to distract you from the slow pace and cranky drivers. Plus, it’s a great way to bond and get to know someone, equivalent to a mini daily road trip. Or find a friend that takes a similar bus or train route and see if they’re down to meet up and ride together. Not everyone is friendly at 7a.m., so make sure it’s a good fit before you commit.
6. Fit in a workout. One way I would break up my bus commute was by finding a workout on my way. When I had the app ClassPass, I’d plan out workouts that were at gyms halfway between home and work. That way my commute would feel shorter than usual, and I’d cross exercise off my to-do list. If you’re feeling up for it, you can bike, walk or run your way to work. Now that’s what I call multi-tasking!

What do YOU do to make your commute a breeze? Share below! XO