Sometimes we don’t always have a choice as to where we work, and this can mean that we spend a significant amount of our time each day commuting. Whether it’s by bus, train, or car, it’s often the part of the day that we dread the most. It’s even worse when we encounter unexpected delays.
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After a while, commuting can really begin to take a toll on your body, especially if you find yourself spending over 2 hours a day going to and from work.
Here are some of the disadvantages of long-term commuting:
- Decline of happiness and life satisfaction
- Blood pressure spikes
- Less sleep
- Increased back aches
After reading this, you may not be able to completely change your daily routine, as you have to get to work, but it doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. If you begin to use the time productively, you’ll find that you may even begin to enjoy your daily commute! Here are some ideas for using the time effectively:
- Reflect – think about yesterday or the day ahead of you – are there any changes you would like to make?
- Listen to music or audio books
- Create a to-do list – plan out your day or even week and you’ll enter the office feeling super organized
- Sleep – of course, you can’t be doing this if you’re behind the wheel, but if you’re a passenger, take the time to catch up on those Zzz’s
- Play games that will help your mind
Commuting doesn’t have to be the worst part of your day. Remember, you’re in charge of your happiness. If you’re not happy with your current daily routine, change it!