The daily commute seems to be the one thing most of us have in common. Entire websites are devoted to traffic prediction, route planning, and even ride-sharing as a form of social networking. However you get to work, you still have to spend some time - a few minutes to over an hour ? sitting in your car, so shouldn't you at least try to put the time to good use? Granted, there are things you should NEVER do behind the wheel, like reading email on your PDA, or putting on make-up, but here are five things you can do to make your commute time less counter-productive.

1.Listen to a story.

Visit your local library or bookstore (we recommend the former) and borrow a few audio-books. They come on CD now, so you don't have to worry about the fact that almost no one still has in-dash cassette players. You can catch up on your reading list while driving, or, if being read to doesn't thrill you, consider renting or buying some old-fashioned radio plays. These are audio theater, and perfect for those mornings when you want a little escapism. Be cautious though. People have been known to speed up without realizing it, when the material they're listening to gets a little risque.

2.Learn a new language.

Before we had computerized language learning, tapes and records were the norm, if you didn't want to take a class. These days, you can buy audio CD's that help you learn to speak using the listen-and-repeat method, which is just perfect for use in a car. If endless repetitions of ?O? est la biblioth?que ?? aren't your thing, consider listening to a foreign-language radio station ? almost every state has at least one Spanish station, and depending on where you live, you may be able to find broadcasts in Chinese, Arabic, French, or various Native American tongues.

3.Catch Up on Pod Casts

Bring your MP3 player with you on the road, and listen to pod casts while you drive. There are no traffic updates, but there are also no commercials.

4.Vocalize

Whether you bring a CD or MP3 player full of karaoke tracks and practice arpeggios, or just sing along with the radio, the car is second only to the shower for singing practice. You have access to musical accompaniment, if you need it, but you can also choose to sing without any help. If your job requires a lot of speaking or lecturing, consider doing basic vocal warm-ups during your commute.

5.Enjoy the Silence

For many busy adults, especially those with children, the commute is their only alone-time. If this applies to you, consider switching everything off ? the radio, the cell phone, etc. - and just enjoying some quiet time. Most of us would benefit from this opportunity to clear our thoughts, and just drive, but if you absolutely have to be doing something, you can plan your to-do list.

As you can see, the daily commute doesn't have to be something to dread. Instead, it can be put to use, making your day go more smoothly, and expanding your mind in the process. If you really have to use that cell phone, though, make sure you have a hands-free kit installed in your car, so that you can use it safely.