If your commute is a total waste of time, you're doing it wrong.
On my first job, I used to commute from my rented apartment to my office for two hours on average, with my daily routine looking something like this:
Walking and waiting time (10 minutes)
Jeepney Ride (10 minutes)
Waiting Time (15 minutes)
Bus Ride (45 minutes)
Waiting Time (15 minutes)
Van Ride (45 minutes)
This may look long, but it's twice as bad if it's a Friday or raining. My commutes used to be time wasters, but not anymore. I realized that since they are not changing anytime soon, I might as well make them productive instead of complaining.
Here are some productive activities I've done to 3x my learning.
#1. Listen to Podcasts or Audiobooks
Listening to a podcast or an audiobook is the best productivity hack you can instantly apply during commutes.
Podcasts are non-intrusive and only require your ears. Ten years ago, podcasts had yet to take off, so I used to open one of my saved YouTube productivity videos, plug in my earphones, hide my phone, and listen for hours. Imagine listening to a podcast or audiobook while commuting or driving - you instantly reclaim two hours of your day.
One hour of commute to listening to a podcast is 5 hours of weekly productivity.
#2. Read a Book
Eight hours is all you need to finish a book.
If your commute has a lot of waiting and queuing, reading a book is a great way to be productive. I used to effortlessly finish one book monthly while waiting in lines. So, if you usually spend hours waiting on social media, you miss learning opportunities.
Imagine finishing 12 books a year solely through your 30-minute waiting times.
#3. Take a Nap
Taking naps is an excellent hack during commutes - don't do this if you're the one driving.
If you sleep less than eight hours per night, taking a nap during commutes is your best productivity hack. I remember a workmate years ago whose commute was at least three hours daily, so he spent half of his sleep on the bus. He often says that the bus seat has become his bed and that sleeping on a commute keeps him energized for work.
Often, the most productive activity we can do in a day is with our eyes closed - sleeping.