I’ve spent more of my formative life on trains than in cars, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Trains took me to high school, to my internship and countless exploits in NYC, and all over the Bay Area when I lived in San Francisco. BART basically became my living room for eight years.
Through all of that, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to make the most of train time. It’s easy to zone out and doom scroll until your station’s already behind you. But with just a little planning, these rides can be surprisingly productive. Or restful. Or creatively brilliant. Or sometimes all three, if the stars are aligned.
Here’s how I turn a long train ride into something way more useful than just a way to kill time.
Staying Connected Near and Far
If you’re traveling outside your home country, don’t assume your signal will follow you across borders. It’s especially critical if you’re relying on maps, translation apps, or need to answer a quick work email before you lose Wi-Fi in a tunnel. Every country’s network situation is different, and not every train offers reliable onboard internet.
Do your homework ahead of time. In places like Japan, Europe, or Korea, there are portable hot spots or tourist SIM cards you can grab at the airport. If you’re headed somewhere like China, setting up an eSIM for China before your trip can be a total lifesaver. It lets you stay connected without swapping out physical SIM cards or dealing with kiosk confusion after a red-eye flight.
Trust me, even when you’re focused on staying in the moment to enjoy a scenic train ride, you may be suddenly inspired to upload that perfect video or book your next stop on the fly, and you’ll be glad you planned ahead.
Prepare For Success
You don’t need to map out every minute. Just pick one or two things you want to do. Being genuinely motivated to do them is the key.
To home in on a realistic to-do list, I usually ask myself:
- Is the backlog of unanswered emails piling up and weighing me down?
- Is this a good time to sketch out blog post ideas or a new recipe concept?
- Should I just journal and let my brain unspool a bit?
Five minutes of consideration before boarding makes all the difference, especially if you’re prone to indecision or difficulty delegating like me.
Turn Your Seat Into a Mini Studio
Once I’m settled in, that tray table becomes my command center. Laptop out, headphones in, iced coffee within reach. It’s all the benefits of working in an office, with potentially fewer distractions, and not actually being in an office.
Depending on my ambition (and Wi-Fi access), I might:
- Edit photos from the last shoot I swore I’d get to eventually
- Write blog drafts or edit pieces for Vegan Journal
- Update my never-ending list of ideas in Dropbox or Google Keep
I don’t always get everything done, but that quiet, focused energy is a goldmine for making real headway on any project, big or small. Plus, there’s something about that forward movement that makes it easier to think clearly and keep pressing ahead.
Clean Up Your Digital Mess
Let’s talk about that overstuffed Downloads folder with menus from 2016, still languishing at the bottom. What about the notes app with 174 half-finished grocery lists, brilliant ideas, and zero context? Let’s not mention the email folder full of messages that you one day might need to refer to… But after a decade, haven’t yet. Train rides are the perfect time to clean house.
Easy steps towards better organization are great to do on the train:
- Sort and label files that need to be kept, and found, more easily
- Revisit half-written captions or social drafts I abandoned months ago
- Trash garbage from projects that never came to fruition, contacts that have drifted apart, and other clutter that just has no purpose
- Delete the twenty identical shots in my camera roll I took “just in case”
- Tag or favorite any photos that have real potential
- Back everything up to the cloud while I’ve got a stable signal
I’ve always found it incredibly satisfying to lighten the load.
Learn Something New
If I’m not feeling up to working, I still try to do something that keeps my brain awake and moderately productive. Usually that means:
- Practicing language skills, especially when visiting a foreign country (Duolingo always comes in clutch)
- Listening to podcasts and audiobooks that are smarter than me
- Watching something that isn’t just a funny cat video (though to be honest, a few good cat videos still have their place)
The goal here isn’t productivity for productivity’s sake. It’s about using the time well, and enjoying the process.
Reflect Before You Forget
One thing that trains are great at, in addition to getting you from point A to point B, is giving you space to think. It’s the kind of stillness you don’t get when you’re running around with the busyness of everyday life.
If you’re feeling introspective, check in with yourself:
- What’s been on my mind lately?
- What am I proud of that I didn’t take time to celebrate?
- What am I avoiding?
Sometimes I just write down the little moments I don’t want to forget. That perfect bowl of noodles; the stranger who helped me find the right platform; the playlist that matched the view so perfectly it felt like a movie; eventually, it could add up to a bigger story I want to tell.
Look Ahead
If I’ve got extra time (or just need a break from staring at a screen), I use the last stretch of the ride to prep for what’s next.
That might mean:
- Checking the weather so I don’t show up in sandals during a downpour
- Finding a nearby food spot to hit the second I get hungry
- Reading up on local customs or transit quirks so I don’t accidentally commit a cultural faux pas
I like to arrive feeling ready, not overwhelmed. Train time gives me that edge.
Work It… When It Works
Not every train ride has to be your most productive day ever. Some days, I stare out the window for three hours straight and call it “creative research.” That’s valid too.
But when you want to feel a little more grounded, a little more ahead, or just a little more connected to your own brain, trains are magic. They hold the kind of space we don’t usually make for ourselves.
Next time you’re boarding, bring your charger, your snacks, and your intentions. Make the ride yours. These little in-between moments might just be the best part.
