Mindful Commuting

Finding Some Calm While Weaving Through the Rat Race.

The way to and from the office can be rushed, hectic, and mind numbing all at the same time. Personally, driving makes me a little crazy - people weaving, cutting you off, etc. It’s crazy town!

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Now when I’m driving I try to be more mindful. I’ve learned that how I commute changes which ridiculous things I experience on my way to start the day at the office or the studio.

My strategy is to pick a lane and stay in it. I allow. all the cars to whiz by. I calmly calculate which will cut me off and make more room to just let them in .

I tell me clients to embrace silence and focus on their breath when they’re having a stressful day at the office. Now I keep in mind, that this applies to me and my mobile office in the car too.

While driving I keep coming back to my breath and I find I do better without music playing. Yes, without music. With I, I forgot to check in with my breath.

Doing this is a practice in patience, just like it is for my clients who spend their days at their desks in their office.

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Here are 5 tips you can use on during your commute that might help you arrive at work in a better frame of mind.

• Listen to something you enjoy or want to learn (podcast, audiobook) and finish it even if it takes a few trips or a month.

• Can you take public transportation? I find that on transport I’m stuck going as fast as it goes - it can still be annoying but try it for a week to see if you are less stressed than driving.

• Leave on time or a few minutes early so you are less rushed. If you get stuck in traffic, bus/train breakdowns, try not to sweat it. Worrying will not help you arrive faster and weaving furiously usually only helps you arrive 30 seconds to a minute faster!

• Get in the habit of noticing your breath. Stick a reminder somewhere visible in your car or on your phone for a few weeks until it becomes a habit. Take a few deep breaths before you start and at specific landmarks during your trip to work.

• Be mindful. Remember you’re a nice person and be considerate of others. Don’t expect a nod, wave or thank you in return. Just pay it forward and move on. When others are less than considerate return to your breath and know it really doesn’t matter (as long as there wan’t really a collision!). It’s already in the past and return to mindfulness your breath.

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Oh, and another favorite bonus idea:

If it’s nice out take a walk as you pop to and from. Don’t fight for the closest space, just park further out and enjoy the extra few steps outside in pleasant weather.

Regardless of which of these tips sound helpful, how you start your day is your choice. Commuting can be your time, mindful time, or it can be crazy time. How you decide to approach it will make a lot of difference.

Which of these makes sense for your commute? Let me know in the comments, or leave questions for the next blog post.

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If you enjoyed this post and found it beneficial find out more about the author, Nadine Blinn. Nadine teaches yoga and meditation in office for Balanced Humans. Please like, comment and share! Read tips how to find a great yoga teacher for your office here Great Office Yoga Teacher.

Thank you to vPhoto by A. L. on Unsplash for the amazing dashboard pic for free. Much gratitude.