Un-hell-ing commute
October 20, 2018 12:41 PM Subscribe
My commute is 3-4 hrs a day. Of this, about one hour is walking/in short spells where nothing can be done. AM commute is crowded, standing room only, for about 45 mins. PM commute is sitting, same duration. How can I use this time/entertain myself/prep for the day ahead/wind down? I'd like options which can work with spotty internet and less dependence on staring at a screen, if at all possible. I like reading, music, the occasional podcast. Every single audiobook I've tried has found me dozing off. Hope me.
What about games for the commute home? I got a Nintendo Switch and I love playing it on airplanes, in bed or on my elliptical machine. For me, cell phone games are just time-wasters and procrastinators and aren't actually fun. Cell phone games are absolutely no match for Super Mario Odyssey, Zelda Breath of the Wild, or Lego City Undercover.
I also have found some podcasts I really love. I listen to them while I do chores, like laundry and the dishes, but I could see myself listening to them during a commute, if I had one. If you'd want any recs there, let us know what your interests are. The ones I listen to are either about sports, specific TV shows I watch, or informational in some way. Another genre that is popular is narrative storytelling podcasts - it's a much better format than a simple audiobook. Ideal for your commute to work.
If you like reading a lot, I'd get an e-ink reader so you're not staring into a bright phone or tablet on the commute. That's not very relaxing to me.
posted by AppleTurnover at 1:13 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I also have found some podcasts I really love. I listen to them while I do chores, like laundry and the dishes, but I could see myself listening to them during a commute, if I had one. If you'd want any recs there, let us know what your interests are. The ones I listen to are either about sports, specific TV shows I watch, or informational in some way. Another genre that is popular is narrative storytelling podcasts - it's a much better format than a simple audiobook. Ideal for your commute to work.
If you like reading a lot, I'd get an e-ink reader so you're not staring into a bright phone or tablet on the commute. That's not very relaxing to me.
posted by AppleTurnover at 1:13 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I used to use that time to improve my Spanish. I have a friend who is completely fluent now thanks to his commute! you may sound a bit weird talking to yourself though.
Also the walking counts as exercise for sure.
posted by fshgrl at 1:59 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also the walking counts as exercise for sure.
posted by fshgrl at 1:59 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Seconding knitting: when you get good, you can even keep it up while walking. It might also keep you awake through an audiobook.
posted by rikschell at 2:18 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rikschell at 2:18 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have about the same window commuting via public transit (30-45 mins, sometimes standing, sometimes sitting) and have found podcasts ideal. Downloading in advance (Google Play allows you to do so via Wifi, I'm assuming other podcast apps would too) will help with the spotty Internet. Narrative podcasts might be good if you're having trouble staying interested - I liked "Slow Burn" (have only heard the first season on Nixon) and have been meaning to look for some good historical podcasts.
An e-reader (or an e-reader app on your phone) is also great. I still use my old-school e-Ink Kindle and find it much less taxing on the eyes than staring at a phone screen. I sometimes use Pocket as well, have found it's a good app for offline reading and always keep a queue of articles saved on it in case I run out of things to read.
The Switch and language lessons are good ideas too - I might have to consider those myself.
posted by photo guy at 2:37 PM on October 20, 2018
An e-reader (or an e-reader app on your phone) is also great. I still use my old-school e-Ink Kindle and find it much less taxing on the eyes than staring at a phone screen. I sometimes use Pocket as well, have found it's a good app for offline reading and always keep a queue of articles saved on it in case I run out of things to read.
The Switch and language lessons are good ideas too - I might have to consider those myself.
posted by photo guy at 2:37 PM on October 20, 2018
Thirding knitting. I can knit while standing on the subway without holding on (stay near a pole anyway if there’s a sudden stop so you can grab on), knit while walking, and knit without looking at my work and while staring someone straight in the eye. I can knock out a pair of socks in about five weeks, just in my 35-min-each-way commute.
I listen to podcasts and knit, and the subway time flies by. Even better is when the subway is delayed and everyone else around you is steaming mad, and you’re all “sweet, I can get another stripe done!”
posted by Liesl at 3:15 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
I listen to podcasts and knit, and the subway time flies by. Even better is when the subway is delayed and everyone else around you is steaming mad, and you’re all “sweet, I can get another stripe done!”
posted by Liesl at 3:15 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
The New Yorker (print version) is perfect for commuting. It's easy to carry and foldable so you can read it while standing or sitting. When I had a long bus commute, I could read it from cover to cover and finish an issue just in time for the next week's issue.
posted by mogget at 3:53 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by mogget at 3:53 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Maybe check out some full-cast audio books? Those have a bunch of people reading the parts, and also some music/sound effects, rather than one narrator trying to do all the voices.
Audiobooks used to bore me, too. But after switching to a 2-4 hour commute, I swear they saved me from killing someone in road rage. Now I listen to most everything, even when I don’t have a long commute.
posted by greermahoney at 4:07 PM on October 20, 2018
Audiobooks used to bore me, too. But after switching to a 2-4 hour commute, I swear they saved me from killing someone in road rage. Now I listen to most everything, even when I don’t have a long commute.
posted by greermahoney at 4:07 PM on October 20, 2018
If you live in a city with a good library system you can make a giant list of books you’ve always wanted to read (or ask for suggestions here) and get them sent to your local branch. Grab two for your commute and then you have at least two options.
Or, many library systems will let you take out eBooks of various formats.
Good headphones are your friends. Listen to music that makes you happy.
Additional slightly off topic advice: find a snack that is satisfying for you to eat on your morning or evening commute. Lara bars worked for me and filled the gap between lunch and a late dinner when I was getting home at nine.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:08 PM on October 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
Or, many library systems will let you take out eBooks of various formats.
Good headphones are your friends. Listen to music that makes you happy.
Additional slightly off topic advice: find a snack that is satisfying for you to eat on your morning or evening commute. Lara bars worked for me and filled the gap between lunch and a late dinner when I was getting home at nine.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:08 PM on October 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
I use the Headspace app for short chunks of meditation when I have to sit on a bus for a bit. The sessions are only 3-5 minutes but they make the rest of the commute more tolerable.
posted by thebots at 4:11 PM on October 20, 2018
posted by thebots at 4:11 PM on October 20, 2018
I recently started wearing earplugs on the subway and found, to my surprise, that I drastically prefer it to podcasts or listening to music. Sometimes I read, or play a game on my phone, but sometimes I just enjoy riding the train (if I've got a seat, anyway). I'd do podcasts for the walking portions. Audio books (especially in vehicles) put me to sleep and I find that I'm much more interested in "conversational" podcasts, rather than documentary or more scripted podcasts, so you may be similar.
(The NY Times crossword app needs to download the crossword, though I find mine usually has done it on its own at home. I open the app on the platform while I'm waiting for the train in case it hasn't downloaded. You don't need internet access to actually work on the puzzle.)
posted by hoyland at 4:41 PM on October 20, 2018
(The NY Times crossword app needs to download the crossword, though I find mine usually has done it on its own at home. I open the app on the platform while I'm waiting for the train in case it hasn't downloaded. You don't need internet access to actually work on the puzzle.)
posted by hoyland at 4:41 PM on October 20, 2018
Crochet requires a hook instead of 2 long needles, and may suit you better than knitting. Less likelihood of dropping stitches, too.
posted by Enid Lareg at 5:23 PM on October 20, 2018
posted by Enid Lareg at 5:23 PM on October 20, 2018
Knitting + podcasts is a great way to spend a commute for me; I too tend to doze off or get distracted listening audiobooks and podcasts...unless I'm also knitting. Also now I have a ton of scarves and hats and socks.
posted by epersonae at 2:07 PM on October 22, 2018
posted by epersonae at 2:07 PM on October 22, 2018
I read erotica. If you're not sure you'll be into it, see if your local public library offers ebook loans and tags its catalogue--I've been working my way through the #erotica tag in alphabetical order and while a lot of it is TERRIBLE, it's all extremely distracting (and discreet when read on a phone or kindle).
posted by mchorn at 6:32 PM on October 22, 2018
posted by mchorn at 6:32 PM on October 22, 2018
I just wanted to nth podcasts, even though you said you already listen occasionally. Try a bunch of different ones to see what you like the most. I mostly like semi-educational but chatty podcasts (such as Stuff You Should Know or Sawbones). Anything that's a monologue or a radio drama doesn't hold my attention. There's such a variety of formats and topics out there.
I mostly do crosswords on my commute these days, but that doesn't work too well when walking or if the subway's crowded.
posted by ersatzhuman at 7:59 PM on October 22, 2018
I mostly do crosswords on my commute these days, but that doesn't work too well when walking or if the subway's crowded.
posted by ersatzhuman at 7:59 PM on October 22, 2018
Try listening to humorous audiobooks or podcasts. You’ll be in a state of mirth instead of dozing
posted by ayc200 at 9:01 AM on November 6, 2018
posted by ayc200 at 9:01 AM on November 6, 2018
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It's so relaxing and rewarding. I've done it sitting and standing on buses and subways with no issues. Socks are very portable.
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 1:02 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]