Trains offer an economical way to travel across the country and visit different cities. But how does one pass the time on particularly long journeys?

This write-up will present you with ideas to amuse or occupy yourself on the train without disturbing others. Many would be happy to be able ways to pass the time on long journeys that help keep them occupied. However, it is important to ensure that these things do not cause disturbance as most passengers would also not like continuous disturbances on long journeys.

The activities that we will cover will mostly be fun, but some of them will also be productive. By doing these things you will not only be able to pass the time but also make the most of your train journey.

Reading

Reading is probably one of the best activities on a train journey as it can be recreational, productive, or both. You can choose to read a novel, or perhaps a personality development or self-help book. Another great idea for topics to read about would be those covering skills that come in handy in your job or business.

Some people may suffer from motion sickness which may make it extremely difficult to read. However, you can always do some reading while the train is not in motion, especially when it makes long-duration stops, most notably at train junctions and major stations.

Another great option enabled by modern technology is audiobooks. And the best part about this option is that you can even do this as you are drifting off to sleep.

Journal Writing/Taking Photos/Making Plans

One of the best options to consider for long journeys is to write in your journal. Studies agave revealed that journaling is very helpful in relieving stress and clearing the mind. It is also a great method of introspection and understanding yourself better. And what better time for journaling than on a long train journey? There is ample time and you are likely to be more relaxed.

Stops at train stations provide excellent opportunities for taking some interesting photos. Additionally, the train may stop en route at the tracks for various reasons and quite possibly the surrounding scenery at the place you have stopped may be pretty photogenic. Moving photos are another interesting option that can leave you with some interesting mementoes of your travel.

You may have goals or other things you wish to achieve or carry out in the near or late future. Creating a schedule will enable you to manage all of the activities involved in achieving these goals. And lengthy train journeys are an especially good time for planning such goals as you will have a comfortable space to do this even as you are on the move. 

Meditation

Long Train Journeys are also a great time to take some time out from everyday life and for silent reflection. Over the years, meditation has gained popularity to reduce stress, increase focus, and enhance self-awareness. It is also helpful to simply become more present in the here and now.

The best part is that meditation can be practised just about anywhere, and can also be done for any duration. So taking some time out be it a few minutes or longer for meditation is a highly recommended way to pass the time on long journeys.

Transcendental meditation is a highly recommended meditation form for long journeys.  You might want to bring any music device or store some mantra chants on your phone. This music will be an aural aid for your meditation practice.

All you have to do is sit or lie down comfortably on your seat, close your eyes, and keep your attention focused on the music. Naturally, your mind may tend to wander off now and again, when you notice this simply bring your attention back to the music.

While on the train it will be good to listen to this music via headphones to not disturb the other passengers. In addition, this will also cut out the humdrum of the other passengers as well as other ambient sounds which will in turn allow you to have a better focus on your meditation.

Decluttering and Editing On Your Phone

Another great way to make good use of your time on the train is to de-clutter your phone. Examine your apps and see which apps are essential to you and those which are not.

Downloading apps only requires a click of a button and smartphones also come with many preloaded apps. As a result, our phones may often be cluttered with apps that are rarely used, if at all.  You need not be very meticulous in examining and deleting apps as you can easily download and reinstall any that you may require again in the future.

You can also edit some of your photos for your social media accounts or blogs. Additionally, you can also delete old photos, especially any that may be unflattering.

Conclusion

The prospect of boredom on a long journey may be quite unpleasant for many. However, as we have seen the time spent in these lengthy commutes offers us the time and opportunity to look into things we were otherwise too busy for.

Probably the most important takeaway from all this is that time conventionally considered idle time such as on a long journey is not necessarily undesirable. And even otherwise, that’s no loss either as most of us in today’s world of busy schedules would surely welcome the prospect of simply being able to do nothing.