Five to Thrive 12/9/2019

UMD’s Thriving Workplace Initiative is making the University of Maryland a great place to work by providing tools and support to foster engaged, inclusive and empowered faculty and staff across campus. 

Each Monday, its Five to Thrive list offers five strategies crowdsourced from research, experts and our own UMD community to help your workplace thrive. 

Is your daily commute a slog? Here are five tips for making the trip to and from work a little less miserable (and maybe something you look forward to): 

• Be strategic with your podcasts. Avoid listening to shows on topics that are depressing or might fuel negative feelings en route to work. Choose podcasts that are uplifting, thought-provoking or that might spark a good conversation with co-workers. Or use the time to learn something, like a new language. 
• Don’t plan your day, plan for the day. Instead of writing to-do lists, use commuting time to think about how to tackle your tasks. Play upbeat music to boost your confidence for an important meeting or presentation. Go over what you’re going to say in a tough conversation. Pysch yourself up with the simple statement, “Today is going to be a good day.” 
• Consider a wardrobe modification. Something as easy as changing your shoes before leaving work signals the end of the day and can make the commute more comfortable. 
• Appreciate the time to yourself. Use afternoon commutes as a buffer between work and personal life. Let your mind wander. Avoid phone calls—work or personal.
• Change up your route. Taking a new way to work is great exercise for your brain as well as a change of scenery. If you travel by train or bus, consider hopping off a stop early. The fresh air and exercise are proven mood-boosters. 

Want more tips? Visit the Thriving Workplace Resource Library here or sign up for Food for Thought Friday, which delivers strategies to your inbox each week. Send an email to thrivingworkplace@umd.edu with the subject listserv to subscribe.