How to Use Commute and Travel Time for Work Learning
Trains, planes and waiting rooms add up to real hours. Here is how remote workers and freelancers can use them for learning, and when it is better to just rest.
In this article
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Yes, you can turn travel time into useful learning, and it works best when you match the format to the setting and prepare before you leave. Audio suits commutes, downloaded lessons suit flights, and short waits suit quick note reviews. Keep the goal small so it helps instead of adding pressure.
Why use travel time for learning at all?
For freelancers, remote employees and people who split time between a coworking space and home, the calendar rarely has a free hour for training. Travel and commutes often come with built-in idle time. Using even part of it for one focused task can move a course or reading list forward without taking a slot from your working day.
It is optional, though. If a trip drains you, rest is a perfectly good use of it. The ideas below are for the days when you have energy and a little spare time.
Which format fits which kind of trip?
| Situation | Format that fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Driving or cycling commute | Podcasts, audiobooks | Hands and eyes stay free (never use a screen while driving) |
| Train or bus | Articles, course videos, notes | Seat and screen are available, but the ride can be bumpy |
| Long flight | Downloaded course modules, books | Connection is unreliable, so offline files matter |
| Airport wait or delay | Short app lessons, note review | Interruptions are likely, so small chunks work |
What are practical ways to learn while moving?
Online course modules
Pick a course tied to a skill you actually need in your work, and break it into modules that fit one journey. Most course apps let you download lessons while on a good connection. Check that the download finished before you leave the house.
Podcasts
Podcasts suit commutes because they need no screen. Choose shows in your field or on working habits, and queue a few episodes in advance so you never start a trip with nothing to play.
Audiobooks, including free ones
Many public libraries lend audiobooks and ebooks at no cost through the Libby app, which only needs a library card. Availability depends on your library, and popular titles can have waiting lists, so place holds early.
Industry articles, saved for offline
Save a handful of articles to a read-later app before you go. A short reading list works better than an open browser, which invites distraction and needs a connection.
Review your own notes
Reviewing notes from a past workshop or a presentation you are about to give is a good use of a short wait. It needs no connection and little concentration.
Reach out to one person
Travel can also be a moment to send a short message to a peer or mentor, or to follow up with someone you met at an event. Do this when you have a stable connection and a clear head, not mid-boarding. If you work in a shared space, our post on hosting workshops in coworking spaces shows another way to learn alongside others.
How do I prepare so it actually works?
- Decide the night before what you will do on the journey, and pick only one or two items.
- Download everything while on reliable Wi-Fi, then open each file once to confirm it plays offline.
- Charge your devices and bring a cable or power bank. A dead phone ends the plan.
- Have a backup that needs no device, such as a paper notebook for ideas.
If you often struggle with patchy connections on the road, our guide to reliable internet for remote workers covers fixes worth knowing. For gear that makes a travelling workday easier, see the portable home office kit on this blog, or browse Mavigadget’s travel gadgets collection.
How much should I aim to learn per trip?
Less than you think. One course module, three podcast episodes or one chapter is a solid result. A small target is easier to finish, and finishing builds the habit. Write two or three lines of takeaways afterwards, ideally one action you will try this week, so the learning leaves the commute with you.
What if a delay or disruption happens?
Delays are common, and a downloaded lesson or saved article turns a stuck hour into a useful one. Still, if you are stressed or rebooking a flight, deal with that first. Learning can wait.
Should I do this all the time?
No. Mix it with real downtime, such as music, a window seat or a nap. Learning on the move is a tool you use when it suits you, and the aim is steady progress in your skills without making every spare minute into work. If you travel often for work, a regular rhythm of one small learning task per trip tends to be easier to keep than an ambitious plan you drop after a week.
Key takeaways
- Match format to setting: audio for commutes, offline files for flights, notes for short waits.
- Prepare and test downloads before leaving.
- Keep goals small and write down one action afterwards.
- Rest is a valid choice.
Want to meet people while you learn? Our post on finding community while travelling is a good next read.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to learn on a long flight?
Can I borrow audiobooks for free?
What if I get motion sick when reading?
Should I work on every trip?
Sources and further reading
- Libby app, which only needs a library card help.libbyapp.com
