Table of Contents
7 Productive Things to Do When Stuck in Traffic
Make Life Easier1. Avoid ads whenever possible
- Ads, especially ones on TV / radio, cause me a great deal of stress
- I go out of my way to avoid them, and recommend that you try this too
- They can be repetitive and can get really annoying, especially because most of them are uninteresting to most people
- I don’t listen to commercial radio in the car because of this
2. Listen to music that brings you joy
- Listening to music can definitely make being stuck in traffic suck less
- I recommend you start using Spotify, if you’re not already
- You can curate custom playlists with only the music you love
- You can also listen to specific artists, albums, and songs on-demand
- And, if you pay for premium (I do), you can avoid ads altogether!
- In episode 238 of The Productivity Show podcast, the hosts talk about how the physical vibrations of music can alter your mood!
3. Listen to comedy!
- Did you know that you could get comedy playlists on Spotify?
- These are an amazing way to bring some laughter to your commute!
- My boyfriend, a few friends, and I were headed to Chicago a couple years ago and we listened to comedy on Spotify almost the whole way there. Made the four-hour drive fly by!
4. Listen to podcasts
- Podcasts are another great source of content for your commute
- I’m big on being able to control what I listen to, and podcasts give you greater flexibility to do this
- Here are some shows you should consider:
5. Listen to audiobooks
- By far, this is my favorite way to make being stuck in traffic suck less
- At the recommendation of my friend Colleen, I’ve used Audible for years
- I can’t say enough good things about this amazing service!
- If you’re interested in signing up for Audible, click here to head there now!
- Normally, you get one free audiobook when you sign up
- But, using that link, you’ll get two free books and two free pieces of Audible original content too!
- I will make a small commission, as well ?
- Here are some books you should check out:
- Work Clean by Dan Charnas | Covered this book back in Episode 28
- Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks | Covered this book back in Episode 29
- The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin | Covered this book back in Episode 35
- The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
- Divergent (all) by Veronica Roth
- Harry Potter (all) by J.K. Rowling
6. Listen to public radio
- If you don’t want to use your phone, don’t have the tech, or simply like listening to the radio, give public radio a shot!
- I love NPR!
- During the week, NPR does mostly news and politics. Then, on the weekends, they host a bunch of amazing shows! These include
- Also, incidentally, all of these shows are podcasts too! You’ll be able to find them in whichever podcasting app you use!
7. Enjoy the silence
- Studies show that being bored is good for your health
- We’ll cover this more in an upcoming episode!
- For now, simply be content with the silence.
- Roll down the windows (in good weather)
- Leave the radio off
- Sit quietly and drive
- Allow your brain to wander
A Quick Hack for Eliminating Interruptions at Work
Make Work Easier- Find yourself getting interrupted all the time while you’re trying to work? I know I was.
- Sometimes, you just need to focus!
- Studies show that it takes an average of 25 minutes to refocus after an interruption
- So, I designed a sign which sets up Focus Hours: Dedicated time in which I ask folks not to interrupt me.
Here’s a clip of my focus hours sign!
- Click the button below to grab the sign. Then, here’s how you use it:
- Print a copy
- Be sure to fill in your email address in the blank at the bottom
- Make copies of the sign after filling in your email
- Then each time you use one, be sure to include a time when people can come back, as well as today’s date
- All three of these pieces of information (email, time, date) increase the chances that folks will respect your wish and not interrupt you, even if it’s “urgent”
- Another idea I had while recording the show: Print just one copy and put it in a frame. Then, use a dry-erase marker on the glass to fill in the blanks!
- Normally, you get one free audiobook when you sign up
- But, using that link, you’ll get two free books and two free pieces of Audible original content too!
- I will make a small commission, as well ?
- Work Clean by Dan Charnas | Covered this book back in Episode 28
- Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks | Covered this book back in Episode 29
- The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin | Covered this book back in Episode 35
- The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
- Divergent (all) by Veronica Roth
- Harry Potter (all) by J.K. Rowling
- Roll down the windows (in good weather)
- Leave the radio off
- Sit quietly and drive
- Allow your brain to wander
- Find yourself getting interrupted all the time while you’re trying to work? I know I was.
- Sometimes, you just need to focus!
- Studies show that it takes an average of 25 minutes to refocus after an interruption
- So, I designed a sign which sets up Focus Hours: Dedicated time in which I ask folks not to interrupt me.
Here’s a clip of my focus hours sign!
- Click the button below to grab the sign. Then, here’s how you use it:
- Print a copy
- Be sure to fill in your email address in the blank at the bottom
- Make copies of the sign after filling in your email
- Then each time you use one, be sure to include a time when people can come back, as well as today’s date
- All three of these pieces of information (email, time, date) increase the chances that folks will respect your wish and not interrupt you, even if it’s “urgent”
- Another idea I had while recording the show: Print just one copy and put it in a frame. Then, use a dry-erase marker on the glass to fill in the blanks!
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