7 ways to use your commute to develop your brain

The majority of city workers have to commute to their jobs daily, many for up to two hours by car, bus, train or metro. The commute is often used for catching up on lost sleep, listening to music/ radio or reading depressing news. But is there a better way to use your commuting time?

For these tips, you will need a notebook to write in and a MP3 player for audio. If you drive, consider using a voice recorder instead of a notebook to record your thoughts. Use your notebook to write down what is on your mind, and also to use as an ideas base and knowledge archive. It does not have to be a traditional diary on what you do every day. Use a quality notebook like Moleskine (www.moleskine.com ) as you are going to fill it with quality material.   

1)   

On Day 1, rate your life in these categories: health, relationships, work, finances, spirituality, travel/experiences. Give yourself a score out of 10 for each, where 10 means perfect. Which of these areas do you need to improve? Write down all the questions you have in this area. This will guide what you focus on next.

 

2)    Download free audio or podcasts on the topic you have decided to focus on. Try www.podcastalley.com or the iTunes store. There are plenty of free podcasts on all topics. You can also buy audio products online. If you want to save money, consider buying old tapes and a player from eBay.

 

3)    Get three books from the library on the area you want to improve. Read them on your commute, even if you only manage a couple of pages a day. Learn actively by making notes as you read. Record your new ideas.

 

4)    Start a correspondence course on the subject you want to improve. Perhaps you want to change your job? You can study on your commute and manage 10 hours per week of extra learning.

 

5)   

Actively read the newspaper, instead of passively absorbing negative news. As you read the paper, search for any articles that you can apply to your life or your business. Don’t forget to record new ideas into your notebook. Start tuning your mind into opportunity and active processing. For example, read about other people’s jobs. Think about how they apply to your own. Or read about a different country and plan an adventure.

 

6)   

Start actively dreaming. Write your perfect day in your notebook. Make it tangible by describing what you can see out of your window, the people who are there and what you are doing. If you are unhappy with where you are now, think where you want to be. The dreaming process is a great place to start. From here, you can identify the steps to get to where you want to be.

 

7)    Reread your old notebooks. Pick up on the ideas you have had and not yet implemented and take action on them now. Remember where you were and where you are now. Celebrate how far you’ve come.