According to industry data, the average commuter spends 58 minutes going to and from work each day. Based on a working year of 233 days, (261, minus 28 for statutory holidays), that’s free time of 19 hours, 20 minutes a month. In other words, over a week of continuous 24 hour days that you can put to excellent use to further your career. According to new research, one in four people uses their commute to learn new skills. We’ve compiled some of the best ways to do that – they’re easy, but you can rely on them for long-term results.
1. Get organized
It’s not the most exciting one to start off with, but it’s certainly one of the most universal, and many people underestimate how helpful it can be. You can save yourself a lot of time and stress by sorting and prioritizing your emails early, or even work on achieving the fabled Inbox Zero – a completely clear inbox. You can also track down or download files you know you’ll need later in the day, or give your colleagues a heads-up on certain tasks. All this can get you off to a running start once in the office, and your boss may well notice the extra productivity!
2. Study for an undergraduate degree
You may have heard it said that degrees aren’t everything anymore, and if you’re on them purely for status, that’s often true. But if you’ve already established your career path, and know your goals for the future, there’s a lot to be said for a carefully selected supplementary degree that can provide you with relevant skills. According to Scrap Car Network’s research, it would take one person 167 hours, or 172 days commuting time, to get through the entire reading list for a Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree at Balliol College, Oxford University. And if one person can manage that, what other courses could you achieve?
3. Learn coding
In today’s digital world, IT skills and basic coding has never been more valuable. They give you precious career flexibility, and can help you think laterally to provide solutions to problems you may not have been equipped to handle before. For example, Mark Billion from Bankruptcy Anywhere wrote a simple code to automate his company’s advertising algorithms. This saved his business $1000 a month, or £9660 a year. That’s some serious financial credentials you could earn with management, and will likely make you their first look-in for any pay rises or promotions. Scrap Car Network’s research highlighted the Python Essential Training course available on Linkedin Training, which only takes four hours and 45 minutes to complete.
4. Learn about social media
If you’re employed by (or owner) a small business with limited use of social media, it can be hugely beneficial to learn more about the basics. Carefully tailored social media campaigns are capable of achieving any number of specific aims, whether it’s increasing your company’s brand authority, or bringing you to new audiences and new potential customers. It’s a surefire way to impress management, especially if they have limited experience themselves.
A personal account is a great way to do some personal networking, too. Not only can this help get your business fresh sales leads, but if the time ever comes to move on from your current position, you might find those contacts come in handy on the job hunt.
5. Keep on top of current industry news
It sounds simple, but keeping up to date with current events can really help your company, whether you’re an owner or employee. Public image is everything in business, and awareness of current events and news can help you to react quickly to any emerging business opportunities, such as local events or public investments.
At the same time, it can help you to steer clear of anything that’s currently garnering public ire or mockery. Make sure you’re not co-opting contentious issues, though – who can fail to remember the controversy surrounding the Kylie Jenner Pepsi ad?
6. Dive into industry seminars and expert advice
If you’re looking to get clued up on how to take the next step in your industry, who better to hear from than the people who’ve already done it? You might be surprised at the amount of podcasts, books, or online seminars that are available from relevant industry figures in your sector, who will know exactly the sorts of skills and attitudes that you’ll need to succeed. If you’ve got some time to kill on your commute, it’s worth seeing what they have to offer.
As the study makes clear, whether you’re looking to climb the ladder in your current company, or you’re thinking about how you’re going to wow the interviewers for your next position, making future plans and being several steps ahead is half the battle!
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