Your daily commute to work can be one of the most stressful things you can encounter. While long commutes are very stressful, studies find it can still be challenging regardless of the distance. In fact, close to 50% of people are ready to take pay cuts to shorten their commute timing.
So if this gives us enough evidence to see how a commute to work can be harmful, what can we do to improve it?
Fortunately, you can make changes to make it less stressful, or better yet, make it productive and focus on self-care.
Seven Commuting Tips To Beat the Stress:
- Make Time for Unrelated Work
Too many of us focus on work all the time. But that doesn’t mean you need to make your commute more stressful thinking about it. A simple tip is to fill your commute time by doing anything unrelated to work. This can set you up with a healthy work-life balance and feel de-stressed before starting work and reaching home.
- Listen to Your Favourite Music
Music can help boost your mood tremendously, helping you avoid Monday blues. What is more interesting is that research suggests you will find your commute time shorter if you listen to your favorite music. So, is that not a win-win situation you can look forward to?
- Speak to a Loved One
Commuting can get particularly lonely if you do not have people to speak to. But you might not always have the opportunity to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
So, speak to a loved one instead. A friend from high school you might have lost touch with? Or perhaps a parent you haven’t called in a while. Either way, your commute can be a great way to catch up and keep anxiety at bay.
- Try Journaling
The next time you commute, especially if you’re traveling by company car, try carrying a diary with you. Writing down your thoughts can be an excellent way to relieve stress and make you feel good. Moreover, research shows that practicing gratitude writing can actually boost positivity and bring more joy into your life. This can be a game-changer during those never-ending, dreadful commutes, magically transforming a negative experience into a positive one.
- Be More Productive
If you spend long hours commuting comfortably, you have pockets of time you could perhaps use more effectively. One smart way to use this time is to catch up on current affairs.
Read your newspaper. Listen to that industry podcast you were planning to listen to on the weekend. Read an audiobook. Keep up with new ideas or work-related trends that need attention.
- Studying Part-Time
Managing schedules can be tricky if you have enrolled in a part-time course while holding a full-time job. However, your commute, especially if it is comfortable, might make for an excellent study environment.
If the average commute is 20 minutes, you can make about 200 minutes per week of learning. So, catch up on those lectures if you have the option of viewing recorded lectures. Complete your homework. Prepare for that test and get those grades while commuting.
- Read a Book
The best thing about reading a book is the escape it offers. If your commute is something you dread, immersing yourself in a book can help you picture a whole other world for you to step into.
There is also a book for every person. Thanks to the multiple genres available, you can read a satirical work or a non-fiction book on the advancements of AI, for example. Also, you do not have to carry a physical book anymore. Instead, download that ebook or an audiobook, and immerse yourself in a whole different world.
- Negotiate Different Hours
If you spend several hours commuting for a job that does not require you to be on time at the office daily, try negotiating your work schedules with your superiors. Request work from home if your company allows it or flexible hours per your company policy. Remember that even the smallest accommodation can help you avoid the rush hour, reducing your commuting time.
Focus on Self-Care for Your Commute
Your commute should not be the hardest part of doing your job. It should be enjoyable or, at the very least, comfortable. Corporate transportation can certainly help with this. But if you cannot access it, you can do a lot to make your commute easier.
Remember, you do not always need that extra legroom to make yourself comfortable. Sometimes all you need is a conversation or a productive distraction.
We hope the above tips will help you make the most of your commuting time.
Are you looking to make your office commutes more efficient and pleasant? Visit MoveInSync to make this possible!
