Top Ten 2009 New Year's Resolutions for Commuters

Commuting is a way of life for a vast number of American workers. So much so that in large cities you find that most radio stations arrange their programming to coincide with peak commuter traffic. Time spent commuting is a significant portion of your life.

And because it is so significant, I have come up with my Top Ten 2009 New Year's Resolutions for Commuters:

1. Find out exactly how much time you spend every day commuting, then find ways to reduce it.

Unlike so many New Year's Resolutions, this one is easy. Rummage through the house for a cheap stopwatch ideally, but you can even use a portable device to note the time and record it in a memo application. Getting this done lets you "check off" a resolution and feel some progress.

Once you know this it's easy to multiply out how much time you spend each week, month, year - and yes, even of your life, commuting. Then look for ways to reduce that amount of time, and I do not encourage driving faster!

Maybe try different routes, or times of day (if you have flex time as an option), or even public transportation options. If you simply cannot reduce it, do not despair, keep reading.

2. Use the commuting time more productively.

Make a list of what you accomplish during commuting time. This resolution will vary quite a bit from person to person. Some drive themselves, others car pool and still others use public transportation.

Those who drive themselves every day maybe think they need to "just drive" to be safe, and I absolutely agree. Definitely do NOT use the time to catch up on phone calls. In many states, using a cell phone while driving can be illegal.

But what do you listen to? Could you listen to motivational tapes, or some light listening training that will help you advance at work? Look into the options.

For those who leave the driving to others, perhaps you could catch up on more reading with a Kindle Reader from Amazon? With the Kindle you can read newspapers and blogs in addition to novels and non fiction.

3. Learn all you can about flex time and even telecommuting.

Go through your company hand book and find out if any policies exist that allow you to either adjust your work hours to coincide with better commuting times or even work from home by telecommuting.

Depending on your specific situation, you may even be able to influence company policy in your favor if you do some internet research on how other companies have cut costs with telecommuting or increased productivity with flex time.

Armed with some facts, you can plead your case for the company to allow you to work when and where is best for you - provided you can show how it benefits the company.

4. Determine how much money it costs you to commute, and look for ways to cut costs.

Time is your most valuable resource, but money is obviously important too. Sky high gas prices made commuting very expensive in 2008. Now that prices have gone down, do not disregard the costs altogether.

In addition to transportation costs, include a daily coffee or breakfast sandwich that you "always" buy on the commute in to work. Ouch. Yes, add up all of those costs and multiply it out to how much it sets you back every week, month and year.

Maybe another route to work would actually take a smidge longer, but no longer make that daily stop for expensive calories so convenient. This might help with another 2009 New Years Resolution you have to lose some weight!

5. Look for ways to make your commute more "green".

Green is not just in, it is a good idea to think about how your commute affects the ecology of the world we live in. This helps you, your children and everyone around you.

Balance the costs of commuting in time and money with possibly ways to make it greener. Car pooling and public transportation may take a bit longer, but usually save money in addtion to being more eco-friendly.

6. Improve your health by not losing your cool.

This is good advice whether you drive yourself and inevitably get stuck behind someone more intent on their cell phone conversation than their driving, car pool with losers, or cannot stand the other folks on the bus or train.

You cannot control others, but you can control yourself. Here is where you might kill two birds with one stone by working on number 2 up above (maybe listen to a motivational audio) and thereby pay less attention to the rude behavior of others.

Not losing your temper will do wonders for your health; and better health is likely another one of your 2009 New Year's resolutions, isn't it?

7. Become a better driver or passenger.

Building on number 6 above, if you drive to work then spend a week paying close attention to how safe and courteous of a driver you are. Do you talk on the phone while driving and forget to go at the green light? How are you with turn signals and lane changes? Being a more courteous driver usually improves your chances for a safe commute as well.

If you are a passenger on public transportation or in a car pool, do you have offensive behaviors that upset others like being too loud on your phone or sprawling out while snoring your way to sleep?

Spend that week noticing if others are annoyed by anything you do and look for ways to improve.

8. Adjust your schedule so that you always get to work on time.

Instead of making excuses about traffic or a late train for being late to work, adjust your schedule so that you always are at work on time. If you end up at work too soon, figure out how to put that time to use for yourself if you cannot begin working.

The goal is not to give the company more of your time for free, but if you are always on time and show initiative in using the time wisely, you may find yourself in line for an unexpected pay raise or promotion.

If nothing else, consider it good lay off avoidance technique!

9. Think about what you might do on your commute to do a favor for someone else.

Maybe you can give someone else a lift on your commute, but I was actually thinking more of ways to adjust your route so that you could pick up the dry cleaning that your spouse ordinarily has to get. Maybe pick up or drop off the kids from time to time.

Time is important and so is money; but relationships are what make the time and money worthwhile.

Look for ways to do something for someone you care about since you are out anyway.

10. Evaluate telecommuting and see if working from home is for you.

Telecommuting, even one day per week, can save you time and money. More importantly, though, working from home might mean that you spend more time with your family. You can still give the company a solid eight hours or whatever a days work is for you, but the commute time is time you now have for home.

Working from home can also save your company money. Once you are setup to work from home, you can stay home when you are contagious but still feel like you can get something done. This keeps others from getting sick and costing the company lost productivity and profits.

Many people go into work sick just because they cannot afford to lose the days wages. Most businesses are aware of that and other advantages to working remotely. You might find a very receptive ear if you bring up the topic to your boss.

If you already own a computer, and most people do, evaluating telecommuting is easy, free and even fun! And you will likely save money not only from the non-commute, but lunches out and dry cleaning expense as well.

There are a lot of options for remote PC access software that will allow you to work from home. The website listed in the resource area can get you started and point you to some free 30 day full evaluations of software ideal for the task.