The journey to work can become another place to answer messages, listen to a lesson and think about the day ahead. Arriving with several unfinished thoughts makes that time feel less useful than it looked on paper.
Choose one purpose for your next commute. You might listen to something you enjoy, review a meeting agenda on the train or leave your attention free. Match the activity to the journey: driving requires attention to the road, while a crowded bus may make reading awkward.
Keep a place to stop
If you choose a task, give it an ending. Review the agenda, then close it. Listen to one episode without lining up another. A commute of uncertain length is a poor place for a task that must be finished before you arrive.
Notice how you feel on arrival for a few journeys. If the task leaves you rushed, simplify it or use the time differently. You can also give the outward and return journeys different purposes. Coming home may be the place to let the working day settle before joining the evening.
