Pass Time by Yourself at a Bus Stop
Taking public transit got you feeling antsy? Try these tips and tricks to pass the time.
Steps
- Read a book. Carry around one that compels you, that's not too terse to be read when you're surrounded with distractions. Or, if you're a morning transit commuter, make a habit of reading the daily paper. If you finish while on the bus, you can leave it on a nearby seat for another person to use. Magazines are also good.
- Listen to music. Bring an MP3 player on your daily commute. If you can't afford one, try an old-school walkman or CD player, which can be found at thrift stores for next to nothing. If you do have an iPod or other modern device, you may be able to access radio stations and explore the world of podcasts, so you can use this time to learn about just about anything that interests you.
- If you have a laptop, this could be a good time to catch up on work.
- Take up a circus hobby, such as juggling or fire spinning. Of course, you wouldn't spin fire on a street corner, but you can always bring along a pair of practice poi to work on your moves.
- Talk to people. Strike up a conversation with another person waiting for the bus. Of course, be street smart, and don't talk to strangers if you don't feel safe. This especially goes for young women.
- Use this time to benefit your body: do some jumping jacks, and use the bus bench - if it's clean enough to touch - to assist you in stretching various parts of your body.
- Daydream and create. Carry a journal or sketchbook. Record your dreams from the night before, jot down ideas for future projects, or make observations about the world around you. This is a great time to listen to the inner muse.
Tips
- Be alert of your surroundings. See How to Be Street Smart
- Bring healthy snacks to keep your energy levels and mood balanced, so that you enjoy your time more and have a greater ability to concentrate on your new bus stop hobbies. See How to Choose Healthy Snacks
- The noise from traffic, and from the bus engine itself as you ride, can be distracting at best and can lead to eventual hearing loss at worse.
- If you listen to music, don't turn it up so loud that others can hear it; this is a nuisance for them and a further cause of hearing loss for you.
- If you're not listening to music, try carrying around some earplugs to use during your wait and ride.
- To make your transit commute more enjoyable, you might need to lighten your load. Take time to organize your backpack, briefcase, or purse so that it contains only what you need and what will make your time go by more easily. Avoid the strain of carrying unnecessary weight. If you do need to carry a lot of weight - such as a laptop and books for college - consider investing in a well-designed, ergonomic pack that places less strain on the body.
Warnings
- Breathing the polluted air on busy streets for prolonged periods of time can be bad for your lungs and overall health. Be sure to expose yourself to fresh air often, by going to the beach or a forested place. Keep plants in your house. And try to get exercise in places with good air quality - this will refresh your lungs and bloodstream.
