Franz ElizI used to take public buses to work as it was cheap and easy. It only took me 5 minutes to walk to the bus stop just outside my apartment.
Although travelling by bus was much cheaper than by car, it was quite time-consuming, and getting stuck in traffic was inevitable. Since I didn’t always get a seat, I always had to stand up for an hour or so. That one hour could’ve been used for more sleep, exercises, or working on a side project.
I wanted to do something even on the bus as it helped me get through the traffic or a long-haul ride.
If you often travel by bus, whether for work or while on holiday somewhere, here are 7 things you can do on the bus to keep you company. Let’s go!
1. Listen to Your Favourite Music
There’s nothing more enjoyable than listening to your favourite songs while you’re on the bus and stuck in traffic. Some people prefer listening to something soothing like lo-fi music, while some prefer loud or catchy music.
Listening to music is easy because you can do it even while standing on the bus. While you listen to music, you can let your mind relax or think about what you want to do that day. If you want to daydream, who’s stopping you?
2. Play Your Favourite Games
I love having games on my smartphone. That way, I can play them in my free time, like when I’m on the bus. I would play ‘Stack’ by Ketchapp before work. I learned about this game from my friend Christian who worked for the company behind the game. Some of my friends also started playing it.
Although the bus wasn’t the best place to play Stack – because the bus was often shaky – it helped me cope with my daily commute.
3. Sleep
Whether you take the bus or drive, you may have to wake up early to beat the morning traffic. If you didn’t get a good rest the night before, then you’re likely to feel tired the following day.
Suppose you get to sit on the bus. Why not take that opportunity to sleep or relax? If you didn’t get your beauty sleep the night before, then this is your chance to recharge.
While this is a matter of preference, some people find sleeping on public transport more comfortable with a pair of sunglasses, eye cover, or cap. Doing so gives them more privacy when sleeping. Some put a scarf on their face.
4. Chat With Friends or Check Emails
I have friends from all over the world, and we always keep in touch. When I’m not busy, I usually chat with my friends via WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook Messenger. Chatting with friends helps me kill time. There’s always something to chat about.
When travelling, you can also inform your loved ones where you’re going that day, provided you have an Internet connection.
When on the bus, checking emails can make you feel like time passes quickly. Of course, you can choose not to open your emails if it’s still early in the morning. Work emails, for example, can easily stress some people out. So if this is the case for you, you might want to be picky on which messages you want to read first.
5. Read
Reading the news can be a good thing. It allows you to stay up-to-date with whatever that’s happening around the world. But not everyone likes to read the news – as it can be stressful – so some people would much rather read something else that isn’t news.
Some people take a book or a kindle with them. Reading while standing on the bus is possible but might not be comfortable for some people. I always read on the bus, but I would do it for a short period. Reading on the bus often makes me dizzy.
6. Watch YouTube Videos or Movies
I love the unlimited mobile Internet I usually enjoy whenever I’m in Malaysia. So when I’m on public transport, I would watch YouTube videos. There are so many interesting channels offering fun and useful content to keep me company on the bus. I do the same when I travel abroad, too, as long as I have access to a good Internet connection.
Suppose you want to watch YouTube on the go but don’t have unlimited data. You can always use your home or any public WiFi to download the videos you want to watch later on the bus. Make sure you keep yourself safe when using public WiFi. You can do that using an Internet security solution or VPN.
One thing to note, though, is you may need YouTube Premium to be able to download YouTube videos and watch them offline.
If you have movies you can watch offline on your phone, tablet, or laptop, you can do a movie marathon while on the bus, especially when you’re on a long ride.
7. Draw or Write Something
I often carry a pen and a book where I can jot down notes or write out my thoughts. Many travellers keep a travel journal with them so they can refer to the things they’ve done during their travels later on. It’s easy to forget all the little details, so keeping a book to write on is handy.
Sometimes the bus is where my creative juices start to flow. So whenever I have an idea – like for a song, book, or blog article – I would quickly scribble down my ideas in a book. I usually do this when I travel across states by bus.
Some people draw instead of write. Drawing is also a great way to stay productive on the bus.
No pen or a book? No problem. You can also write or draw on gadgets that allow you to do that. You’ll need to get the app that suits your needs. Some examples of apps you can use for drawing are ibis Paint X, Adobe Illustrator Draw, and ArtFlow. For writing, Notion, Notes, and Evernote are excellent options.
