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March 4, 2008
Reduce the Stress of Your Commute
Is commuting to and from work more stressful than the job itself? At best, this stress causes headaches; at worst, it results in serious health problems. It all depends on where and how you commute.
A long era of cheap gasoline, nearly 4 million miles of highways and reasonably priced vehicles led to suburban sprawl. Today many working professionals in America commute, trying desperately to make the most of a less-than-ideal daily inconvenience or nightmare. It isn't always easy.
Or, as one study put it: Commuters can experience greater stress than fighter pilots going into battle or riot policemen feel.
According to Forbes, the worst places to commute are:
1. Riverside, Calif.;
2. Atlanta, Ga.;
3. Los Angeles, Calif.;
4. Houston, Texas; and
5. Washington, D.C.
The commuters in these areas, and indeed many other metropolitan areas, feel the stress of simultaneously trying to get to work on time while trying to avoid accidents. At best, the stress causes headaches and, at worst, can result in serious health problems.
According to a study conducted at the University of California-Irvine (via ThirdAge.com):
Researchers found that driving alone under stressful conditions can actually cause or contribute to high blood pressure or stroke. According to this study, a long commute (more than 18 miles one way) may increase the likelihood that you will have a heart attack. It's not only the stress involved that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, but also the exposure of commuters to high levels of air pollution, which appears to be a risk factor for heart disease.
Also, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, "growing congestion in U.S. transportation systems poses a substantial threat to the economy and to the quality of life of millions of Americans. In 2003 alone, congestion in the top 85 U.S. urban areas caused 3.7 billion hours of travel delay and 2.3 billion gallons of wasted fuel, for a total cost of $63 billion."
Tips to Make the Best of Commuting
If you drive, plan ahead. Try to negotiate with your employer about start times. Customers always come first but if it doesn't much matter when you start in the day, aim for before or after the time when the highways are most clogged. Also, don't put off until the morning what you can do the night before. Specifically, check the weather, have your clothes laid out, lunches for any youth, and you, if you take one, made and packed, enough gasoline in the vehicle, backpacks, purses, glasses, keys, brief cases are placed near the door and some nutritious food ready for breakfast. Get enough sleep the night before — many health care providers recommend about 8.5 hours, but this varies with age.
Carpool if you can. Some states have Web sites enabling commuters to share riding and driving to work. This can take a few extra minutes but helps reduce stress, cost (gasoline and vehicle wear and tear) and air pollution. Some cities even offer HOV lanes for carpoolers. Check with your insurance company about liability. Chances are, if you're not making a profit on carpooling, there'll be no problem.
If possible, consider taking a train or bus. It may be less expensive when you calculate costs for gas and vehicle replacement. Those who use public transportation can rest, listen to music, read, enjoy puzzles, talk with friends or work with a laptop to pass the time.
Make it fun. If there's no public transportation, you can still bring your favorite music along for the ride, listen to a book on CD, learn a language or catch up on the news.
Make it kid-friendly. If you can take a bus and have a youngster, prepare for the ride with food, drink and distractions, recommends a blog called Wheel Revolution.
How's your commute? Have any commuting tips to share?
Resources
Commuters 'Suffer Extreme Stress'
BBC News, Nov. 30, 2004
America's Unhealthy Commutes
by Allison Van Dusen
Forbes.com, Nov. 26, 2007
Stressing Out: When Commuting Is Your Life
by Tammy Chernin, R.Ph.
EBSCO Publishing Health Library - ThirdAge.com, 2008
Chapter 4 Reduced Congestion
U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2003
Commuter Benefits
Greater Redmond Transportation Management Association, 2008
Tips for Commuting by Bus with Kids
Wheel Revolution, May 9, 2006
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Comment
11 CommentsTip#1: Commute on your motorcycle. I ride 30 miles each way, all year, and it is a DE-stresser.
March 4, 2008 12:59 PMI live in the DC area. I recommend buying a smaller house and living closer to work to avoid the commuting stress altogether.
March 4, 2008 1:44 PMI try to ride my bicycle the 15 miles to work in "good" weather from March thru October up to 3 days per week. With gas approaching $4.00 a gallon, I save a ton of cash while getting a great workout. It took a while to find quiet roads but I found them and now actually ENJOY my commute! By the way, I'm 54 years old and work in an office, so I need the exercise.
Try to work out an arrangement with your employer where you can work from home one or more days per week. With the internet and email today, it is not difficult to work at home without clients knowing the difference.
March 4, 2008 2:11 PMI ride my bike (21 miles one way) to/from work when I can. I try to get in 4-5 rides a week. This is a great way to destress.
March 4, 2008 2:20 PMI second the recommendation of "making it fun". I use to commute up to 3 hours a day (via train) to/from work. I decided to pick up German for fun, and reward myself by traveling to Germany a year later.
The cost for the Pimsleur tapes were close to nothing, and now I find that I use language for both business and pleasure. (Looking back now, I'm incredibly glad I did that.)
March 4, 2008 2:26 PMRide your bike!!!!!!!! Don't think you can make it the whole way? Put your bike in your vehicle and ride the last few miles to/from work. Park a mile further away every week until you can make it the whole way, both ways. I can't imagine a better or easier way to reduce stress, carbon emissions, and dependence on foreign oil - not to mention stay healthy. Chances are, if your commute takes you through city streets, you can get there faster on a bike than you would in a car, anyway.
March 4, 2008 3:08 PMBuying a home close to work may not seem cost effective on the surface, since home prices in the suburbs tend to be cheaper. But, do the math. The cost of gas (which isn't getting any cheaper) plus wear and tear on the car might easily offset the higher house payment close in.
Now consider the wear and tear on yourself of the extra commute time versus spending more quality time at home and suddenly that higher house payment might seem like a down-right bargain. And most of your additional additional house payment (interest and taxes) is deductible--bonus!
March 4, 2008 7:11 PMI've been listening to books on tape or CD for years. You can get a wide variety of audio books for free at your local library. Get involved with your book and the time goes by fast!
CHECK WITH YOUR CITY OR STATE ON CARPOOLS, AS YOU KNOW COMMUTING WILL BE UNTIL RETIREMENT, BUT ITS EITHER ALONE OR IN COMFORT WITH A GROUP OR ONE BUYS A NICE EASY FUEL EFFECIENT AND ALL CHIP IN FOR EVERYTHING. ONE MORE ITEM. IF YOU HAVE TO COMMUTE WITH USE OF A FERRY, WHY NOT CHECK INTO BUYING A CAR THAT GOES UNDERWATER. BY GETTING A VEHICLE THAT GOES UNDERWATER, YOU SAVE ON FERRIES. ALSO FUEL EFFICIENT $2500 CARS FROM INDIA THAT GETS 50 MILES PER GALLON AND CARPOOLING. QUANITY OF CARS CAPACITY, BUY THAT MANY CARS, ONE DRIVES EVERY MONTH, THEN THE NEXT ETC.
March 12, 2008 5:15 PMI once had to commute one hour each way (two hours per day minimum) meaning - if there was a traffic jam it could take an extra hour. All the travel had to be on an Interstate or Toll Road or the trip could have taken half a day! No kidding. The stress of this with all its speeders, bodies on the pavement, mangled vehicles, and road rage; was so much that I was physically getting sick.
After keeping this up for 3-1/2 year, I was able to stop, and I am at peace now - no I don't mean I'm dead - but very happy to not and never will again, drive that long for work.
P.S. - it took me three years to unwind and for my body to recoupe from the bad effects of all that type of stress for so long.
