Page 190 - Talane Miedaner - Coach Yourself to a New Career_ 7 Steps to Reinventing Your Professional Life (2010)

178 COACH YOURSELF TO A NEW CAREER

Eliminate or Reduce Your Commute

I once read somewhere that if your commute entails driving more
than forty-five minutes each way, it is bad for your health and that
it is worth moving closer to your work site or getting a job closer
to your home. Now, with the advances in technology, more and
more people can work effectively from home. If you can negoti-
ate with your boss to work at least one or two days from home,
this arrangement will save you not just your commute time but the
time it takes to get dressed for work too. Make sure you are more
productive on your home days, and let your boss see your results
so that you can negotiate for even more time off-site. You’ll be
saving more time this way than would first appear. You will have
fewer interruptions at home and will be incredulous at how much
easier it is to get things done. As previously noted, you’ll save time
getting ready as well, since you don’t need to worry about your
appearance if no one is going to see you in your home office. Just
avoid using video when talking to clients! Without all the office
interruptions, you should be able to do your work in about half
the span it would normally take, saving you anywhere from two
to six hours a day. The more time you can trim from your current
job, the more time you will have available to think about your ideal
career, go on informational interviews, write your résumé, or start
work on your own business.
Some jobs require your attendance (such as mine did at the bank),
but that doesn’t mean you can’t use your time there more wisely.
I put my commute time to healthful and productive use by
walking an hour a day both to and from work while listening to
inspiring audio programs. You could also try biking. Use your
lunch hour to develop new skills and/or contacts (I used mine to
go to Toastmasters International to develop my speaking skills),
and tap the resources of the company to get new training in your
areas of interest. Be alert to all the opportunities around you to
add to your skill base and gain experience in areas that appeal to
you. Volunteer to take on projects that will get you exposure to dif-
ferent departments, fields, or industries. You may bump into the