1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning. 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: This is Laura, Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: tip is that carpooling isn't just for kids. If you 4 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: want more time with family, friends, or colleagues, consider whether 5 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: driving somewhere together could create relationship building time without adding 6 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: one more thing to your schedule. So I want to 7 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: start this episode by acknowledging that a lot of people 8 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: do like their commutes, because being alone in a car 9 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: is an opportunity for quiet or a chance to listen 10 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: to music or podcasts that no one else likes. When 11 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: I have worked in offices, I have often enjoyed the 12 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: trip home as a transition between work and the rest 13 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: of life. If that is you, o great. But if 14 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: your commute isn't something you look forward to as me time, 15 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 1: consider whether you could bring another person along on occasion. 16 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: This might create time for connection during a window of 17 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: time that often feels like it is wasted. So, for instance, 18 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: if you and your partner work anywhere near each other, 19 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: you might decide to join forces on occasion. I am 20 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: not saying you try to commute together every day. If 21 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: you don't actually work together, you likely have different schedules, 22 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:42,119 Speaker 1: and two stops adds time for someone, but it might 23 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: be a nice treat. Once a week or so, you 24 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: could choose a particular day of the week and protect 25 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: your schedules on that day so you don't end up 26 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: with an early morning meeting or a solo commitment right 27 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: after work. Even once every two to three weeks or 28 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: so could give two working parents a significant extra dose 29 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: of couple time. The same options would be available with 30 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: a friend who lives somewhere near you and works near you. 31 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: Aligning schedules can be hard, but you do have to 32 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: get to work. Maybe you can go together at least 33 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: once every few weeks. Carpooling to your extracurricular activities can 34 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: be great too. If a volunteer colleague lives near you 35 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: ride the subway home together, you and your neighbor who's 36 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: also in your book club could share a ride there, 37 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: offer to pick up your exercise buddy on the way 38 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: to your spin class. An added benefit of that is 39 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: that you will probably make it to the class more 40 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 1: often because you won't want to cancel on your friend 41 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: who is counting on you for a ride. Carpooling can 42 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: be especially valuable for longer drives. If you and your 43 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: cousin are both going to a family wedding a few 44 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: hours away, consider riding together. It's better for the environment 45 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: and your budget, and you'll get lots of catch up time. 46 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: Carpooling may create some extra time for connection with colleagues 47 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 1: as well. You could ride with a colleague when you're 48 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: both going from your office to a work meeting or 49 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: a work dinner, or when you are traveling to and 50 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: from the airport on a work trip. Whether you're in 51 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: one of your own cars or in a shared cab 52 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: or an uber, riding creates time for you to interact 53 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: but feels lower pressure than going out to dinner. Lots 54 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: of people want more relationship time in their lives but 55 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: don't want to add any more commitments to their schedules. 56 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: Commuting time and just general running around in the car 57 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: tends to be some of the least pleasant moments of 58 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: the day. Car Pooling is a win on multiple fronts 59 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: because it adds something nice to life during a time 60 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: that isn't always pleasant. Even if it can't happen all 61 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: that often, it might be worth trying from time to time. 62 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura, thanks for listening, and 63 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 1: here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for 64 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, 65 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: you can reach me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. 66 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts 67 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 68 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.