“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” - Carl Sandburg

During most of my career, I have lived relatively close to where I worked. I could drive to the office in 15-20 minutes and, at one point, I was even riding my bicycle on days when the weather was fine. For a bit more than three-and-one-half years now, I have lived an hour’s drive from the university and I have adjusted to the life of a commuter. Today, I write about how I use the time that wraps around, and is embedded within, my work day.

Each day I have two hours spent commuting, 60 minutes for lunch and could have two 15-minute breaks during the day. In practice, I don’t always manage to take those breaks and I don’t always manage to take my full lunch hour. There is always plenty to do, and often I get some of it done when I could be taking a break! I encourage others to take time for lunch but don’t always follow my own advice. I’ve gotten better at taking these breaks from work and I find it helps me manage my stress and bring my best to the work I do.

By being more mindful of using my breaks, lunch and commute time in ways that help me stay physically and emotionally healthy, I am better able to bring my best both to my work and to my loved ones. Almost every day, I take time during my morning break to do some simple exercise that helps me stay strong and healthy, and also helps reduce stress and increase my patience and resilience. When I don’t manage to do this in the morning, I make an extra effort to make time in the afternoon.

Most days, I take at least some time during my lunch hour to write to my loved ones and I still send these old-school letters through the mail. I write about the fun and interesting things going on in our lives, about challenges I am facing, and about my thoughts and feelings. For at least a while in the middle of each day I am with these loved ones in my thoughts and in my heart. Spending time with them this way helps me keep my balance, stay close to my dear ones, and refresh myself so that I return to my work with renewed energy.

Writing this way is also a bit like keeping a journal and has the benefits of that good practice in helping me reflect on my thoughts, feelings, accomplishments, and concerns. It also helps me remember how grateful I am for the love in my life, how fortunate I am to spend special times with family and friends, and how strong the connections are between me and my loved ones. When I look back at the letters I’ve written, I am reminded of how rich and rewarding my life is, and of how my loved ones have been there for me when times were tough.

The greatest amount of personal time I have that is part of each work day is my two hours of commuting. I am very lucky that I spend almost all of this time driving about 40 miles through the mountains and foothills of California and very little time sitting in traffic.  As I look back on my father’s commute in the LA basin, I know I’ve got it easy!

With an hour before work each morning, and another as I drive home in the evening, I’ve found that there are many things I can do to use this time to learn, relax, prepare, create, rehearse, and wind down. When my day includes an important meeting or key project, I can use this time to focus my thoughts and review important aspects of the work ahead. If the day has been especially difficult or frustrating, or has ended with an unpleasant surprise, I have time to sit with my thoughts and feelings, find my way to solutions, or to peace with things I cannot change, and to let go. This helps me arrive home more ready to make the best of the precious time I have to spend with my wife and family.

I’m glad to say that most of my commute time is spent on things that I enjoy! I find time for one of my favorite pastimes, reading, by listening to books on CD from our local library. I think through ideas for new songs I am writing, essays I am working on, and other creative projects. I listen to songs I am learning, sing along, and try to sing them through from memory. I listen to podcasts from favorite authors and on topics I that interest me.

Each day, I spend some time on my spiritual practice as I commute and this helps me in many ways. It helps me stay in touch with the essence of myself, my values, and beliefs. It gives me another moment in each day to honor the connection I feel with my loved ones and the love the joins us together. It is a time of mindfulness and heartfulness that feeds my soul and helps me bring my best self to the people I encounter each day.

If you are a commuter like me, or if you find making some time available for yourself during the workday beneficial, how do you use this time? I’d be interested in hearing your creative ideas for making the most of these precious hours of our lives.