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20th Dec 2016

This Is How To Make Your Commute Seem Shorter, According To Science

Louise

Commuting into work, school, or college is never an enjoyable experience. Especially if it is cold, raining, and you and your fellow commuters are packed in like sardines. 

So what is the best way to make this arduous journey feel quicker? 

Scientists have conducted a study and it shows that the best thing you can do to help time feel like it is passing quickly is to listen to a podcast or audiobook.

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The study shows that podcasts actually trump listening to music, or reading a book, to help pass the time. 

Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, used an MRI scanner to track brain activity and map the brains of people listening to podcasts.

The results proved that absorbing a story from a podcast requires more activity across your brain, as each word you hear in a podcast makes you recall a different memory or thought. This occupies your mind, making your journey seem shorter. 

Reading also inspires a similar effect but requires more concentration, which can be difficult when on a crowded bus or train. 

Music can help pass the time but listening to songs that you know well might not capture your attention as much as a podcast, as your brain is used to the sounds.

We’ll be trying this one!

Read Next: 7 Great Things To Do On Your Commute To Work

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