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I'd like to propose an alternative: doing nothing. That works best when you are at window-side and watching the views. When I had 2 hours of roundtrip commute b
by sedatk 9y ago
I'd like to propose an alternative: doing nothing. That works best when you are at window-side and watching the views. When I had 2 hours of roundtrip commute back in 2000, the travel itself was extremely soothing and mind healing. I think it worked pretty much like meditation. I used to think about the work, code, new ideas and they faded into other thoughts, then drift away. I didn't have a cell phone to distract me either.
We normally don't give our brains some idle thinking time. I think it's helpful in organizing thoughts, achieving peace of mind, reducing anxiety, improving creativity. Long commutes are perfect for that.
- dopeboy 9y agoI appreciate this point of view. I have a counter argument though: why not work while in transit and use the gained time to relax at a place of your choosing?
- sedatk 9y agoBecause commute is mandatory, there is no escape from it. But I have been postponing my plans to "meditate" at my ideal place for years now.
- mbrock 9y agoThat's also kind of why people go to meditation centers and retreats and stuff—to voluntarily get a "mandatory" meditation schedule, so they'll actually do it. I also really appreciate these brief periods of forced meditation!
- dagw 9y agoAll true and in general I agree, but if working two hours on the train means I get to go home 2 hours earlier then I'd rather work on the train all things considered.