[Practical] A roundup of ways to kill time on the train [for commuting to work or school]
When it comes to transportation closely tied to our daily lives—like commuting to work or school—trains are the first that come to mind.
Sitting or standing, just waiting to arrive at your stop…
Many of you probably find that boring or feel it’s a waste of time.
If you ever think, “I have nothing to do,” or “This time is going to waste,” this article is for you.
We’re about to share a whole bunch of ideas for passing the time on the train.
We’ll cover ones that use your smartphone and ones that don’t require it at all.
Find the time-killers that suit you best!
- [Solo Time] A roundup of ways to kill time without using your smartphone
- Kill time while waiting or stuck in traffic! A roundup of games four people can play
- Games you can play in the car! Fun activities to liven up drives and traffic jams
- [For Adults] Make the Most of Your Free Time! Ideas to Kill Time
- Recommended ways for girls to spend their free time
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- Recommended time-killing websites to enjoy your free time
- [Killing Time] A Roundup of Fun Without Spending Money [Saving Money]
- [For Middle School Students] Recommended Ways to Spend Your Free Time
- Perfect for killing time! Fun games you can easily play on LINE
- A collection of personality quizzes perfect for killing time
- Recreation popularity rankings for junior high school students
- Single-player games: a roundup of time-killing games
[Practical] Ways to Kill Time on the Train [For Commuting to Work/School] (1–10)
English learning podcast
Studying English during your commute while swaying on the train sounds ideal, doesn’t it? That’s why I recommend focusing on learning through podcasts.
Since podcasts are tailored for spoken language, they make it easy to concentrate on listening—highly recommended! You can hear English in a natural, real-life way, including native pronunciation, speed, and casual expressions, which is a shortcut to improvement.
Best of all, podcasts are free to listen to.
Why not find your favorite channels and study while having fun?
Rhythm training
A sense of rhythm is essential for playing musical instruments.
By training your rhythm, you might be able to play the guitar even better! This is a must-read for anyone taking guitar lessons or learning on their own.
Since it only involves keeping time with your body, it’s perfect for squeezing into spare moments during your commute to work or school.
While listening to music, practice building your sense of rhythm—try quarter notes, eighth notes, just the off-beats, and so on! Practicing for just five minutes a day is the quickest path to improvement.
It’s also great as a daily routine on the train.
Play with ChatGPT
ChatGPT has been in the spotlight with people asking, “Is it going to threaten human jobs?” When you hear “AI,” you might think it’s hard to use, but it’s actually very handy for clearing up small questions or getting advice when you’re not sure what to do on your day off.
You can just type as if you’re talking to a friend—for example, “I’m going to Shinjuku this Saturday—any café recommendations?”—and the AI will pick out relevant information gathered from the internet and share it with you.
It’s surprisingly fun, so why not give it a try during your commute or when you have a bit of time on your hands?
[Practical] Ways to Kill Time on the Train [For Commuting to Work or School] (11–20)
Binary with fingers
Speaking of binary, it’s a way of representing numbers—also used in computers—that uses only 0 and 1.
The counting system we generally use is decimal, where the place value increases by a factor of 10.
Did you know you can do this with your fingers? You assign the thumb to the ones place, the index finger to the tens place, and so on, and you count by bending a finger to indicate a 1 in that place.
It’s not only handy for counting, but also serves as finger exercise, making it a great brain-training pastime.
Writing novels on a smartphone
There may be more people than you’d expect who have thought, “I want to write a novel.” And perhaps some of you have felt like writing your own autobiography based on your life so far.
If you’re interested in writing, it’s an activity I strongly encourage you to try.
There are apps that let you write on your smartphone, so give them a try.
If that feels like a hassle, you can also jot things down bit by bit in your notes and then compile them at home when you have time.
Household account book organization
According to statistics, as many as 40% of people have never kept a household budget.
However, by keeping one, you can understand how your money flows and identify areas where you should cut back.
Wouldn’t it be nice if that helped you save money or buy things you like? If you let the entries pile up, it becomes a hassle, so try using spare moments to input your expenses.
There are convenient apps that let you enter data from both your computer and your phone, so check them out.
Also, if you write in a small notebook, you can keep it in your bag.
Meditation
An activity I recommend for your commute to school or work is meditation.
By stepping away from your smartphone and social media, shutting out external input for a moment, and turning your attention inward, you can calm your mind and build emotional stability.
Doing this can help ease daily stress and boost your self-esteem.
It’s especially recommended for those feeling worn out by work or relationships.
Meditation is effective even in short sessions, so why not try it on the train or while you’re waiting?