Commuting and Work/Life: Finding Balance

My daily commute has been averaging an hour and 45 minutes with many longer days in the 2+ hour range each way.  Yuck!  Most days I can manage my car time fairly well, although recently it has become much, much more difficult.  This is partly due to a choice I have made about not emailing/texting while driving, and with limited red lights, I can’t utilize my time as effectively as I used to in that way.  I am also tired of most of the morning radio shows, although they do have their moments, and I don’t have satellite radio.  I take calls when I safely can…always using a blue tooth device, but some mornings are pure pain.  I arrange conference calls and I try to use early am time for meetings with my colleagues in Europe.  The most challenging days involve after school sporting events, parent teacher meetings or simple doctor’s appointments.  These pattern interruptions can totally throw off my commuting rhythm, and let me assure you, trying to make an afternoon away game on time makes me acutely aware of just how much time I really spend on the road each day.  With road construction planned for the next few years, my car time will surely increase.  Help!  How are you juggling your time traveling to and from work with other work and life demands?