How to Transform Your Commute Into “Reading” Time

The unmistakable thrum of an engine roaring to life. The maddening crunch of brake pads, slowing to a crawl behind an endless convoy of red taillights. For many of us, the morning commute feels like a soul-crushing purgatory—a mind-numbing limbo between the cozy sanctum of home and the demanding world beyond.

But what if we could transform those wasted hours into a portal to different worlds, a gateway to profound ideas? As an avid reader and notorious book-juggler, I’ve spent years experimenting with ways to read more on the go. And let me tell you, once you transform your commute into “reading” time, those gridlocked highways become just a bit more bearable.

So let’s dive in. Whether your commute is 20 minutes or 2 hours, here’s how to maximize every idle moment behind the wheel or on that bus with reading.

Overcoming the Obstacles to a Commute Read-a-thon

At this point, the nay-sayers are likely piping up. “But I get carsick if I even glance at a book!” Or “My commute is a rapid patchwork of starts and stops – I can never focus.” While those hurdles are real, I promise there are strategies to help even the most transit-queasy bookworm.

For the Motion-Sick Masses

If you’re one of the unfortunate souls who turns a delightful shade of green while reading in a car, fear not! Audiobooks could be your commuting salvation. Simply download your latest novel or that riveting biography and pop in your headphones. With your eyes free to watch the road (or count ceiling rivets on the bus), you can happily inhale literature without a bout of nausea.

Another option is simply adjusting your reading position. Instead of hunching over a book at an awkward angle, try propping it on the dashboard or mounting it on a portable reading stand. Sometimes improving the ergonomics and expanding your field of vision can tame that sickly feeling.

For the Distractible Mind

Let’s be honest – our morning brain function often leaves much to be desired. I remember many groggy commutes staring blankly at the same page, painfully aware that my mind had been wandering for miles. To keep focused during those bursts of stop-and-go transit, I recommend:

On Traveling Light

Nothing kills the reading vibe like a teetering tower of books devouring your footwell or back seat. Fortunately, we live in a modern era offering smart alternatives to book-hauling:

For the Digital Nomads

If you’re willing to embrace modern tech, an e-reader can instantly lighten your load. These sleek devices can store thousands of books, allowing you to swap titles with a simple tap. And with basic e-readers minimizing eye strain, you can gulp down chapters worry-free.

For the Hard Copy Holdouts

Perhaps you’re a purist who simply loves the smell of paper and the crack of a fresh spine. No judgment here! Consider borrowing books from your local library to avoid hauling your full personal collection on every commute. Many libraries also offer e-book borrowing now if you want a hybrid approach.

Choosing Your Commuting Reads

Now for the fun part—choosing what delightful words will accompany you on your transit adventures! While any reading material is better than doomscrolling through traffic reports, certain formats tend to work best for commute reading.

For Short Bursts

If your commute clocks in under 45 minutes each way, I’d suggest “bite-sized” content that can be picked up and put down easily. Think:

These shorter works are perfect for quick reading sessions between stops. You can fully immerse yourself, then set the material aside without losing your place when you reach your destination.

Turn Your Commute into an Audio Adventure

For those facing longer commute slogs, audiobooks offer a way to make the miles melt away. With a good narrator’s voice guiding you through the narrative, even dense novels become accessible amidst the chaos of your commute.

My advice? Sample narrators and audio clips before committing to a 20+ hour audiobook. You’ll want a voice that captivates your imagination rather than lulling you into a semi-comatose state. Don’t be afraid to adjust the playback speed either – I often bump it up to 1.25x or 1.5x for an extra zip.

Of course, podcasts and audio courses offer additional options to feed your brain during the commute. While these tend to scratch more of an intellectual itch than a narrative one, they’re great for picking up new skills or staying looped into current events.

Optimizing Your Commute Read

To make the most of your reading time, a little preparation goes a long way.

Pack Intentionally

Before your commute, take a few minutes to gather your reading material and supplies:

The less time wasted juggling or searching for things once you’re en route, the more time you can devote to the printed word.

Embrace Noise-Canceling

One of the biggest challenges for commuter reading is the ambient din of your surroundings. Whether it’s rumbling engines, chatty seatmates, or that amped-up road rage unfolding a car over, distractions are everywhere.

Quality noise-canceling headphones can create a blessed pocket of silence to immerse yourself in the story. They also send a polite “do not disturb” signal to those around you. Of course, make sure you can still hear important announcements or alerts related to your commute.

Find Your Rhythm

Transforming your commute into reading time is a process of experimentation. What works for me may not be ideal for your unique reading style and travel scenario.

Be open to trying new formats – maybe audiobooks are an unexpected hit or you find yourself loving graphic novels during stop-and-go traffic. Embracing e-book borrowing or getting cozy with reading on your phone could be game-changers. Finding your ideal reading groove enhances the overall experience.

Why Bother Making the Effort?

At this point, you might be wondering – is this whole reading-during-transit thing really worth the trouble? The answer is a resounding YES! Turning your commute into book time unlocks incredible benefits:

Maximize Your Efficiency

Let’s face it – commuting is often felt as a waste of precious time. By squeezing reading into that dead zone, you’re recapturing hours that would otherwise be utterly unproductive. Over weeks and months, those pockets of reading time allow you to consume an extraordinary amount of information—books you may never have prioritized.

Decompress and Escape

But reading isn’t just an efficiency hack. It’s a mental escape from the grind of metropolitan life. With a book’s guidance, your rote commute transforms into anything from a high-seas adventure to a soul-stirring drama. That delicious fictional break can melt away the day’s stresses before you even pull into the driveway.

Reinforce the Habit

We all know reading enriches our lives – it exercises our brains, builds empathy, enlightens us. Yet in our hectic, modern blur, we often let this nourishing habit slip. By making bite-sized reading a fixed part of your existing transit routine, you reinforce the habit. Those daily chapters turn you into a more voracious, well-rounded reader over time.

Your Commute Reading Adventure Awaits

From drowsy mornings spent watching Google Maps pins crawl to evenings sacrificed in unending highway parking lots, we’ve all felt the oppressive drain of our commutes. But you have the power to reclaim that time! Every moment spent engrossed in a tale or study is a moment spent expanding your mind rather than stewing in boredom.

So pick up that dog-eared paperback. Cue up your latest Audible obsession. Embrace the gorgeous simplicity of words during those frustrating transition periods between home and office. Who knows – the next time you’re stuck in gridlock hell, you may find yourself thanking those stationary cars for granting you unexpected reading time.