How to Get More Done on Your Commute Without Extra Stress
Have you ever thought about how much time slips through your fingers during those in-between moments? I’m talking about the “dead time”—those stretches when you’re waiting, commuting, or just sitting around. Today, I want to share how these moments can become your most powerful productivity tool.
Take my daily train rides, for example. Whenever I travel, I always bring my laptop or my Kindle. It’s become a habit. Sometimes, I prefer the Kindle because it’s lighter and more convenient, but the point is, I never board a train empty-handed. Even as I approach my stop, my laptop is already packed away, but my backpack is always ready with something to do.
Why is this so important? Because dead time is everywhere. Instead of scrolling through endless news feeds or watching random videos that don’t add much value, you can use these moments to move your projects forward. One trick I use is noise-canceling headphones. They help me create my own bubble, blocking out the chatter of conductors or the beeping of doors. With this setup, I can focus completely on what I’m doing.
Some trains even have little fold-out tables, which is perfect for getting work done. With just over an hour on the train, you’d be surprised how much you can accomplish. I once heard about someone who wrote an entire book just during their daily train rides. They had almost an hour each way, so about two hours a day. By using just an hour and a half each day to write, they finished a book in three months—just by making use of their commute.
Think about how many people take the train every day. Most of them don’t do much with that time. Some sleep, others just stare out the window. Of course, not everyone can work on a train—my girlfriend, for example, gets travel sick and can only look outside. But if you’re like me and you can focus in transit, you have a golden opportunity.
You don’t need fancy equipment. You can write on your laptop, use a special distraction-free writing device, or just grab a notebook and pen if you prefer paper. If you’re working on a novel, you can chip away at it every day. If you’re writing an information book, you can draft chapters. You could even record a short video if the train isn’t crowded. The key is to use that time instead of letting it slip away.
Life is short. Every hour wasted is an hour you’ll never get back. So why not turn those “lost” moments into something meaningful?
The way we spend our days is, of course, the way we spend our lives.
— Annie Dillard
Don’t count the days, make the days count.
— Muhammad Ali
Key Takeaways
- Always carry something productive to do during dead time, like a book or your laptop.
- Use tools like noise-canceling headphones to stay focused and block distractions.
- Even short periods, like a daily commute, can add up to big achievements over time.
- Don’t underestimate the value of small, consistent efforts.
Reflection
How much time do you lose each day to dead moments? What could you create if you used that time differently?
Pierre-Henry Soria
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