Change the way you look at your commute - use it to achieve success.

I spent years commuting to a job in the centre of London which involved leaving the house at 6 am and not returning til after 8 at night.
When I first landed the six-figure role I would have done anything and didn't even flinch at how much extra time this would put onto my day. The first few months were exciting but my gosh they started to take a toll on my body and mind and it wasn't long before the first signs of exhaustion set in.
It was during that period that one of the greatest parts of my self-development came out however . After not more than a few weeks I started to learn how to use that commuting time for my gain rather than seeing it as the thorn in my side that it was turning into. That time of change was instrumental in me implementing things into my routine that I still use today.
It's really hard when you're in your twenties and you're expected to have all the energy to do all the things, so I thought I'd share with you some valuable ways that I learnt to make the most of my time given to me on the commute and use it for my gain.
These days, I work from home and only have to travel a few feet to work, but if I were to have to commute again, I know I'll be OK.
I hope you find some of these useful.

1) Catch up with emails.
We're pretty lucky these days (or unlucky, depending on which way you look at it!) that even if you don't have a laptop or a tablet, you've still got all of your emails on your phone. Back in the day, I did have to get my bulky laptop out but I took this as a great way to start the day. By he time I got to the office I'd dealt with everything I needed to, had a clear inbox and was ready to start the day afresh.

2) Listen to a podcast.
Podcasts weren't around much back in the day, but I had some great self help stuff which I'd downloaded onto my MP3 player and the commute was the perfect chance to clear my head and remind myself what a great person I am These days there are SO many inspirational and motivational speakers out there who can change your world if you get into a routine of listening to them regularly, and a commute is the perfect place to do that. Get to the office ready to take the bull by the horns, love it!

3) Social media.
As with podcasts, social media wasn't anything near where it was when I was on my long commute however it seems clear to me that this is the perfect time to catch up on your personal accounts. Most people (myself included until recently), check social media first thing in the morning before they even get out of bed and if you're anything like me - it can take over your life! Don't look at Facebook and Insty until you get on the train which will save you valuable time first thing in the morning and throughout the day. It'll also stop you from being distracted on wok and human interaction too!

4) Make your to-do list.
This is a great time to organise your schedule of everything you need to do and plan your strategy for how you'll attack the day. You don't even need a laptop for this, good old fashioned paper and pen will work if that's how you roll. When you've got a list as long as your arm, prioritising is essential and making a list of priorities before you get to the office and the phone starts ringing will contribute so much to your productivity.

5) Read.
An old fashioned book or a kindle - both expand your knowledge and relax you in equal measure. Look at that extra hour or two you've been given as a gift to escape and learn at the same time/

6) Meditate.
This might be a bit difficult depending on the nature of your commute, but for me I had over an hour where I just had to sit and not worry about anything else. Headphones in and eyes closed and by the time I was at the office I was in a complete state of calm - it worked in reverse too and by the time I got home the stresses of the day had disappeared. That's if I didn't fall asleep first!

Look, depending on the nature of your commute some of these might not be practical. If you're driving or swapping from bus to train and back again it might not work. But I think as long as you've got some headphones, whatever your commute looks like, it's the perfect way to improve yourself mentally and learn along the way too.
Enjoy!