Do you have to spend a lot of time in your car? Maybe you have a long daily commute. Or perhaps you drive your children around to a lot of activities. Or maybe you find yourself on road trips on a regular basis. Whatever the reason, you can make that time useful for you. You just have to find ways to be productive while driving.
Safety First
Of course, you also need to be safe. Therefore, it’s important to think about ways to be productive in the car that won’t distract you from the road.
In other words, you don’t want to engage in activities that take too much mental energy. And you definitely don’t want to do things that take your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.
For example, you don’t want to set your tablet on the dashboard and try to work on it while you drive. Safety first.
5 Ways to Be Productive While Driving
Luckily, there are a lot of things that you can do to be productive while driving. Here are five good options to get you started:
1. Make Phone Calls
This is one of the most popular ways that people take productive advantage of their time in the car. If you use a hands-free headset, then making phone calls while driving can be relatively safe. Here are some tips:
- Don’t make stressful phone calls while driving. For example, if a phone call is going to trigger anger or sadness, then save that for when you’re off the road.
- Instead, choose phone calls that are light and fun. For example, call your sister or your best friend.
- If you take a business call on the road, ask the person to follow up via email. Alternatively, record the call. That way, you don’t need to try to take notes while you’re driving. Yet, you’re still being productive.
2. Brainstorm
Use your driving time to brainstorm ideas for work, a new project, or your latest hobby. You can also brainstorm lists including To Do, gift ideas, and goals for the future. Use voice recording on your phone so that you simply have to speak your list out loud, rather than typing it into a phone.
One tip is to set a minimum amount of time to brainstorm on one topic. For example, if you have three stops, then between stops two and three you might brainstorm the entire time.
3. Learn a Language
Everyone can benefit from learning a new language. Even if you never use it to communicate, it grows your brain. Use audio lessons to learn a new language while driving.
4. Explore a Topic of Interest
Use podcasts and audio non-fiction books to study a topic in depth. Choose a topic. It could be related to your work, to a skill you want to gain (such as improving your personal finance knowledge), or to a random topic that’s always interested you. Delve deep. The more time you spend in the car, the more time you spend studying and learning. This is a great way to be productive while driving.
5. Have Conversations with Kids
There is something about the intimate space of the car that makes it easier for some kids to open up to their parents. On the one hand, you’re stuck there together in this small space. On the other hand, you as the driver are focused on the road, which can feel less intimidating than an eye-to-eye conversation. Talking about all things under the sun while you’re driving can open the door to some terrific conversations with your kids.
What is something you like to do that makes you feel productive while driving?
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Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.