Create a commute podcast queuedaily

This is a daily routine for time in motion and pause. Use “Create a commute podcast queue” to bring a little wellness into the gaps of your day.

Listening to podcasts at any time seems like a good idea, but doing so will keep you busy until you go to bed. If you create a separate cue just for your commute, you'll create the boundary of 'only listening on the go'.

Dividing the ear area does not reduce content, but rather confines listening time to movement. The more good episodes there are, the more vigilance is needed.

Create a commute-only queue

Create a ‘Commuting’ playlist in the podcast app. Just put in 3-5 episodes and add the next episode in advance at home. Limiting your spending to a maximum of two per day—one on the way to work and one on the way home—manages your spending pace.

Stop playing when you get to your home or office. Keep 'Listen Next' only in the commute queue. Decide not to open this queue on weekends or evenings.

Name your cue something catchy. A clear name like 'Commuting Only' will help you remember the rule. Keep it in one app folder so it doesn't get mixed up with other playlists.

Reasons for dividing your ears

If you decide to listen only while on the go, podcasts become your 'moving companion' rather than just background music. Listen intently while walking or riding, and let your ears rest once you arrive.

You don't have to worry about emptying your queue before you go to sleep at night. Even if the episodes you haven't heard pile up, you can continue listening to them on your next commute. Cues flow according to the speed of movement.

When you feel like sitting at home on the couch and putting on a podcast, try saying to yourself, ‘This is my commute cue.’ That one word protects your territory.

When the queue is empty, you can fill it up then. You don't have to chase new episodes every day. If you choose just the right amount for your 20-40 minute commute, your day will fit neatly into your commute.

Even if you have a lot of favorite podcasts, don't put them all in your commute queue. If the rule of ‘only listening on the move’ is broken, your ears will work again until you go to bed. Keeping the cue short and relevant to the movement is key to this routine.

If the queue is empty on the way home from work, you can go home in silence that day. Not having anything to listen to is not a failure, but a day off for your ears.

Just add the next episode to your queue the night before work. You don't have to pick it in the morning, just press play when it starts moving.

When you discover a new show, don't queue it up right away, just jot it down in a 'list to listen to on my next commute' note. Picking habits when you're not on the move breaks down your boundaries.

If you have any episodes left in your queue at the end of the week, skip them on your way to work next week rather than binge-listening to them over the weekend. Ear holidays are also necessary.