How to Transform Your Commute into a Super-Charged Learning Lab

Taking Full Advantage of the Information Age

Why spend half an hour or more cursing traffic every single weekday when you could be supercharging your learning instead?

128.3 million Americans commute—nearly 41% of the population, and many are more than 10-mile trips. Almost everyone has some skill they want to learn but not enough time to do it—and learning new things has myriad happiness, brain, and health benefits. So why not practice while commuting to work?

The Options Are Nearly Limitless

You can find free audio podcasts about nearly every subject, including NPR, TedTalks, HowStuffWorks (which explains how things work, like lion taming). It can be hard to pick from all of the options, but lists like this and this are a good place to start (look for one coming from us soon!).

You can learn almost any language with free podcasts on iTunes, and most have more robust paid features (some free ones like the Brazilian Portuguese Podcast “Ta Falado” for Spanish and English speakers, are just plain excellent). Already know a language and want to keep your skills sharp? Find a news station in the language of your choice and tune into that instead of the radio.

Most books are now available in audio format as well, and fiction is a good way to make driving a happier experience. For more academic learning, The Great Courses are taught by some of the most well regarded professors of any given subject.

Let Yourself Be Surprised

While you cannot learn guitar, you can get singing lessons or learn to have perfect pitch. While you cannot workout, you can get running tips, learn about human anatomy, or listen to the latest research about the best training strategies. There are likely options for whatever your passion is, or whatever you want to learn. Avoid industry topics that you already spend your days learning—let yourself enjoy this time.

One of the best resources for the most cutting edge thinkers and doers of our time is to listen to anything from IntegralLife.com. This site contains thousands of hours of interviews and discussions about art, evolution, philosophy, science, health, money, relationships, business, psychology, sex and gender, spirituality, and world affairs with an eye towards an integrative philosophy that honors the partial truth of every perspective. (Check out the audio introduction to Integral thinking with Ken Wilber’s Kosmic Consciousness, from SoundsTrue—another great resource for audio programs).

How to Super-Charge

To super-charge this time, try listening at double speed. Podcasts played in iTunes are already equipped with this option. If 2x is too fast, build your way up using the free SpeedUp Lite app, Audible, or something similar.

The Importance of Safety

Of course safety while driving is of utmost concern. Taking advantage of commuting as a skill-building lab is easier and safer for public transit commuters, since talking or listening—whether music or audio programs—increases your risk of crashing by 1.3X. Drivers should make sure to set their lessons up before they start driving, and do not risk taking their eyes of the road to navigate to a different program or the next track.

What are you favorite audio learning courses, podcasts, and apps? Any recommendations? How do you make time to learn new hobbies and skills?

Image: Some rights reserved by tallkev

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