Time that is already set aside
A commute is one of the few parts of the day that tends to be fixed. You are going to spend that time traveling anyway, and for many people part of it is idle. That makes the trip an attractive reading window, with no extra scheduling needed.
How much you can read depends heavily on how you travel. A seat on a quiet train is very different from a standing spot on a crowded bus, and a driver has a different set of options from a passenger. This article looks at what tends to work for each, and at some general habits that help.
Matching the format to the transport
Trains and trams
These are often the easiest. Many rides are smooth, seats are common on at least some routes, and journeys are predictable. Print, e-readers and phones all work. If you have a long ride, you can read novels; for shorter ones, shorter pieces suit better. Rush hour may mean standing, so a slim book or e-reader that you can hold with one hand is useful.
Buses
Buses can be bumpier, with more starts and stops. Some people find print hard to follow on a rough route, and a few feel queasy. If that is you, try larger text on a device, listen instead of reading, or look up periodically. A seat near the front or over the middle of the bus tends to feel steadier to some riders, though that varies.
Ferries and boats
Ferries often have more room and calmer motion, but weather can change that. Wind and glare on an open deck may call for a paperback with a firm grip, and a seated indoor spot is usually better for a longer read.
Cars as a passenger
As a passenger, you can read, but motion sickness is common in cars, especially on winding roads. If you feel unwell, stop reading and look at the horizon. Audio may help.
Walking, cycling and driving
Do not read print while walking along a busy street, cycling or driving. For these, audio is the practical choice. Audiobook listening during a walk or drive lets you keep up a story or an argument. Keep the volume at a level where you can still hear traffic and warning sounds, and never let a story distract you from driving or road awareness. Local rules also differ on headphones while cycling or driving, so check them.
Choosing what to read
The commute has its own demands. You are often interrupted by announcements, stops and other passengers. You may also read in short stretches of ten to forty minutes.
Ideas that suit this setting:
- Short stories or essays that can be finished before you arrive
- A novel with short chapters, so you can stop at a natural point
- Light material on tired mornings, saving denser works for calmer times
- Something you will not mind losing, if you worry about a book getting damaged in a bag
If a book is too demanding for a rattling bus, set it aside for home. Quitting books that do not fit the commute is better than reading them badly.
Practical details
- Keep your reading ready. Put your book or device in the same pocket or bag every day, so you never have to search.
- Mind your stop. If you are absorbed, set an alarm or use a station announcement. A good book can make you overshoot, which is tolerable once but irritating weekly.
- Charge your device. An e-reader typically lasts long between charges, but a phone drains faster, especially when you also use it for navigation.
- Download in advance. Signal in tunnels and rural stretches can vanish, so save the text or audio offline.
- Think about security and comfort. Hold devices carefully in crowded places, and keep your bag close.
- Have a backup. A second short piece is handy if you finish your main one or your battery dies.
Make the most of a short trip
If your trip is only ten minutes, you can still read. Ten minutes twice a day adds up, even if it feels small in the moment. Use it for a few pages or a short article. If your journey includes a wait on a platform or at a stop, you can extend your reading by using that waiting time as well.
On the other hand, a very short or very crowded commute may not be worth the effort, and that is acceptable. You might prefer to relax, listen to music, or look out of the window. Not every spare minute has to be productive, and a commute is also a time when your mind can rest.
Troubleshooting
Motion sickness. Reading in a moving vehicle can make some people feel unwell. Try sitting facing forward, looking up often, choosing a different seat or switching to audio. If it persists or worries you, a doctor or pharmacist can offer advice.
Distractions. Other people’s conversations or music may break your focus. Headphones with quiet music or no sound at all may help. Some readers find a steady background easier than silence.
Fatigue. Early mornings and late returns can leave you tired. Light, enjoyable reading works better than something that feels like study.
Phone temptation. If you read on your phone, notifications will compete. Turning on do-not-disturb or using a separate e-reader can help.
Build the habit
Attach reading to the first moment you sit down, so the commute becomes a cue. Keep it simple: sit, open the book, read until you arrive. After a few weeks many commuters find the habit feels natural, and the trip begins to feel like a small, reliable pocket of calm. That can vary with the quality of your route, and some days will not work, which is fine. Even a modest, imperfect commute habit can add up to a good number of finished books over time.