5 ways to be more productive in the car

There are few things I dislike more than driving. Growing up in Boston—a city known for its less-than-friendly roads—made me naturally averse to getting behind the wheel, but it got even worse as the productivity nerd in me realized just how much of a time drain driving can be.

During the past few years, however, I've learned a secret: while I'll probably never enjoy driving, there are a few good ways to burn rubber through your to-do list even when you're stuck in traffic. Here are my five favorites:

1. Use voice to text to write drafts of emails and blog posts. This one is somewhat controversial given perceived safety issues, but I believe you can make it work as long as you keep your eyes on the road and at least one of your hands on the wheel. Recent improvements in voice-to-text functionality allow us to multiply our output by using our voices instead of our hands, relying on the keyboard primarily for editing instead of composing first drafts. Voice to text is also a much safer choice than texting while driving, of course, although it's worth thinking of anything you compose via voice-to-text as a work in progress to avoid the temptation to fine tune your writing at 70 miles an hour. Use this tactic when something can wait to be polished and sent later.

2. Listen to audio books and podcasts. Consuming the written word can be pretty inefficient. It doesn't allow for all but the most basic forms of multitasking (reading and drinking green tea, yes; reading and folding laundry, no) primarily because it requires both hands and all your concentration. That's great when you want to (and can) give something your full attention, but it's not always productive. That's where audio books and podcasts come in. While they may command all of your attention, they require none of your hands—making them the perfect companion on your morning commute (as well as your gym routine, yard work, and—of course—laundry chores). The other great thing about audiobooks and podcasts is that they're often free. My local library lends audiobooks via a mobile app and many great podcasts are available to listeners at no cost. Download an app like Podcast Addict and subscribe to about a dozen podcasts focused on your interests or industry and you'll always have something on hand that allows for hands-free learning.

3. Make a call list before you hit the road. This one's simple but somewhat underappreciated—as is the phone itself. As email dominates our communication environment, we've forgotten that the phone is often a better choice when you need to build a relationship, explain something complex, or factor in audio clues like inflection and tone of voice. Best of all, you can avoid all that pesky typing. Keep a list of conversations better or equally well handled as phone calls and tackle them from the driver's seat.

4. Practice presentations. This is one of my favorites. A longer drive gives you plenty of uninterrupted time to walk through the verbal end of your presentations (which, in the end, are more important than your slides). You can go over pacing, measure whether you've budgeted enough time, and rehearse sections that are especially important (I usually give the first few minutes some extra attention, since a presentation that starts off polished is more likely to stay that way than one that begins with fumbles and foibles). Even if you don't regularly make presentations, this can be a great opportunity to practice your presentation skills. Fabricate a topic relevant to your industry or interests and you'll be much better prepared the next time a real opportunity comes your way.

5. Don't drive. This is my favorite of all. Ask others to split the drive, work remotely and therefore avoid a commute, or use public transportation—all great choices. When practical, it generally pays off to hire someone else to drive. Think of it this way: your fare is likely a lot cheaper than the opportunity cost associated with downtime. For example, there's a shuttle service that will drive me to a city two hours away for $39. Isn't your time worth more than $14.50 an hour? Factor in the wear on your car (and, depending on where you live, your nerves) and this one's a no brainer.

So if you're looking for ways to do more without expanding your workweek, start with the time in your car—some of the most unproductive time of all. If you make better use of your drive, you may end up looking forward to your next commute. I haven't taken it that far myself, but it makes something I dislike a little more tolerable.