With a little forward planning, you could make your train journey to and from work a valuable part of your day. We’ve pulled together some practical tips to help you reclaim that routine time in the morning and evening and make it work to your advantage. 

Don’t forget, there are some smart ways to make your commute more cost effective, too. Check out our Season Ticket calculator to understand what you could save with a Season Ticket – suitable when you travel regularly between the same two stations – or a Flexi Season ticket, useful if you travel into the office twice a week (or 8 days travel within 28 days).  

Making a last-minute trip to the office? Advance tickets could save you majorly on your commute – over half a million Advance tickets for less than £10 are released weekly. And you can buy them on the day of travel on many routes. Check out our Save Money on Your Train Ticket page for more money-saving tips. 

1. Use the time to plan your day

Use your journey time to set yourself up for the day ahead (and free up more time for your non-work priorities when you get home!). Whether you like to catch up on your work schedule, or have plans to meet pals in the evening, take the time to sync your calendar, check emails and messages, confirm reservations or double check addresses and booking times for after-work commitments.  

Have a tough meeting or presentation? Take the time to mentally rehearse or skim through your notes. Have an overwhelming list of to-dos? Use your notes app (or a good ol’ notebook and pen) to checklist your priorities for the day.

Need some help getting focused? Check out our series of Spotify playlists(external link, opens in a new tab) we've curated with the help of music psychologist, Dr Michael Bonshor, to get you in the right headspace for your commute.

2. Enjoy some me-time

Commuting time doesn’t have to be all hustle and grind, in fact, our research found that almost half of rail travellers’ favourite thing about commuting is that ever so precious ‘me-time’. Take advantage by reaching for something that brings you joy – saving the mental gymnastics for the workplace.

Grab that book that’s been gathering dust at home and immerse yourself in a world of travel, romance or comedy. Hit play on a podcast that makes you laugh. Unsure what to listen to? Podcast Apps like Spotify(external link, opens in a new tab) and Apple Podcasts(external link, opens in a new tab) have great chart functions to see what’s popular with others. Or, gripped by a new series? Most streaming services allow you to download your favourite shows straight to your phone. Our top tip would be to do this ahead of your journey for uninterrupted viewing time. 

If music’s your thing, you’re not alone. In fact, the average train commuter listens to a staggering 492 hours of music on their commute every year. We polled the nation for their favourite commuter tracks, and the list doesn’t disappoint – listen to our Top 30 commuter tracks(external link, opens in a new tab) on Spotify.

3. Unwind and relax

After a hectic morning or busy working day, sometimes the best thing you can do on your commute is to simply - be.  There are great resources out there, such as the Calm App(external link, opens in a new tab), Headspace(external link, opens in a new tab), or mindfulness creators on YouTube(external link, opens in a new tab), that offer guided meditations, designed to help you take a moment of pause, calm your mind and just switch off. 

Mindfulness, or being aware and engaged in the present moment, has proven health and wellbeing benefits including increased creativity, attention and performance*. Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, Dr. Ellen Langer, has suggested a simple way to practice mindfulness on the train: putting away your phone, placing your hands on your lap, and looking out the window. Let the passing scenery engage your focus and help to clear your thoughts.   

If you need a little help with winding down, calm music is great for taking a breather.  Why not enjoy some mellow tunes as you watch the seasons change from the train window (or nod off to sleep). Let this soothing playlist(external link, opens in a new tab) help you switch off.

4. Learn something new or pick up an old hobby

Your commute is a great opportunity to pick up a new hobby or delve deeper into your interest areas – and it’s good for you, too. Engaging your brain with new activities that force you to think, learn, and practice, can be one of the best ways to keep it healthy**.

Try user-friendly Duolingo(external link, opens in a new tab) and start practicing the basics of that language you’ve been putting off (or pick back up where you left off from school!). Download an audiobook on a subject you’ve always been curious about or listen to one of the millions of podcasts out there covering both niche and popular topics. Check out National Rail’s Nothing Beats Being There series(external link, opens in a new tab) - hosted by Jo Whiley, Musical Routes(external link, opens in a new tab) uncovers the origins of some of Britain’s favourite bands, songs and genres, or listen to exclusive interviews with British sporting greats while learning of our country’s rich sporting history in Sporting Routes,(external link, opens in a new tab) narrated by Kirsty Gallacher. 

If you want to get creative on your journey, you could knit your way to your destination like Olympian Tom Daley(external link, opens in a new tab), or bring a small sketchpad and some pencils and draw what interests you from the views outside the window. 

Looking to upskill? Check in with your workplace to see if they support courses or classes that you could engage with during your commute. Make your journey a time to invest in yourself and your future.