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| photo credit: omgvoice.com |
With the hustle and bustle of life, trying to make ends meet, commuting is inevitable and especially when you have to commute in a place like Lagos with the traffic situation (shakes head). If you live in Lagos, Nigeria, you'll know that the traffic situation is something else even with the introduction of traffic officers (Jenifa calls them "Laisman") to control the traffic movement.
Catching up with meetings/events means you have to leave your source place to your target location (obviously... talking nerdy) early enough say 1 to 2 hours depending on you destination.
With the traffic, so much time is wasted which could have otherwise been utilized effectively. In this post I share with you tips on how you can be productive while commuting.
Let's go!
1. Carry a book- An adage says a book is your best companion which in fact is no doubt since it keeps you company no matter where you are. It grants you access to other people's space. Also, studies show that readig keeps the brain active. So in order not to be mummified, Read Read Read! You can read novels collected from a friend or borrowed at the library, or at events/meetups/meetings.
Get ebooks on your mobile phone or tablet if you prefer to keep weight light, I particularly prefer ebooks because they're cost effective (*winks*). You know you need to save in these times.
2. Keep a journal or jotter- Great inventors both past and present wouldn't have made renowned achievements if they did not pen down their ideas. There are times when we just have the light bulb moment or an idea just crossed our mind within a flash. Don't let that wonderful idea go into oblivion, keep a journal or get a note app on your mobile device to write it down for later recall. Each time I replace my phone, I make it a priority to have a noteapp installed, you can try out evernote, notepad, Samsung S memo or any other note apps available.
Now get those ideas in black and white and make history.
PS: I drafted this article using the notepad on my samsung S3 while commuting though it took me several months to complete.
3. Visit a self development or productivity website- Being productive is essential for leading a fulfilled life. Take some time to read articles on productivity tips that you can implement in your daily routine. If you are the video type, there are tons of sites that have view-worthy videos on self development and productivity ,a good one is TED Talks, Pick the Brain is another productive site with great content and lest I forget ProductiveMuslim though aimed at Muslims pretty much anyone can benefit from its content too.
4. Check your e-mails- We are so busy sometimes at the workplace that we forget to check our personal emails. This might make us miss out on memorable event invites from friends/family or webinars we registered for. So while commuting, take some time to have a look at your emails. After checking, I suggest adding the event/webinar dates to your mobile device calendar for quick reminders and checks.
5. Call your family/friend - Family and friends have a great place in our hearts. The relationship built over the years should not wither away because of distance or work or any other factor. Have it in mind to call or text that faraway cousin or friend of yours, ask about his wellbeing, bet you he'd be glad that you got in touch. Call your parent and tell them how much you love them (remember to pray for them too). This goes a long way in keeping the relationship alive.
6. Watch a movie: I have observed that during commute, some people play/watch series or full movies on their phones. In my opinion, correct me if I'm wrong I don't count this as being productive but instead as a way to de-stress after the work. Though not all movies aim for productivity, some give insights to different areas of life (If you know of some kindly indicate in the comments). I decided to include this part for the sake of its de-stressing power. Being stressed makes one Unproductive and De-stressing increases one's Productivity. So it gorra point there!
Lastly, while being productive don't forget to take caution and be alert during commute. I am talking about the "Obtainers". Read my post on Lessons from the Oshodi Bridge.
So there you have it, little tips to be more productive during commute. Any thoughts about this article or you have some tips you adopt? please share in the comments below.
