The Daily Grind how Commuting is Bad for the Soul
When all of us are trying to get to work at the same time, even a ten minute drive can turn into a nightmare, complete with angry drivers, traffic that is backed up for miles, and the sores in our legs from hitting the brake pedals of our cars every five seconds. Even the most patient and rational individual can be sucked into the phenomenon known as road rage, where we buckle under pressure of dealing with the road and trying to get to work on time. Before we even know it, we being to lose it and enter the panic zone.
After all, how can one deal calmly with a guy in a Hummer behind us who just won't let us into the neighboring lane, even though we've had the blinker on for the past five exits. How can we not fear for our lives after seeing the woman in the car next to us talking on her cell phone and putting on her make-up at the same time, as she is driving? And let's face it, we are far from perfect either. How many of us have been distracted by picking a song on our iPods and, as a result, almost get into an accident? I, myself, will plead guilty here.
Those of us who don't have cars have the misfortune of taking public transportation to work. While not having to directly deal with other cars on the road, we have a myriad of other obstacles to overcome. First of all, we have to follow the bus schedule and plan our morning routine around the bus arrival time. Once we get on the bus, we face another obstacle - dealing with people. Most of us are aware that the morning commute on a bus or a train is rarely a pleasant one. There are often not enough seats for everyone, so many end up standing in the aisles. During the frequent stops to pick up or drop off passengers, we must hold on tightly to railings and handles on tops of bus seats, in order to prevent ourselves from falling on other passengers.
In addition to the bus/subway overcrowding, we often encounter "interesting" individuals during our daily commute. Everyone seems to be familiar with the crazy old man who screams obscenities and about the impending end of the world all the way to the stop where we get off. We all know the chatty woman on her cell phone who always has something to complain about, like a missed sale at Saks, very loudly and in great detail. And of course there are those individuals who conveniently forget to shower every morning and just happen to sit next to us.
So what does all of this have do to our mental health and over-all well-being? Well, we all know by now that mental and physical health are interconnected, and we all can conjure with much legitimacy, that coming to work with a huge headache, courtesy of our morning commute, can negatively affect our attitude and our productivity for the rest of the day.
Our daily commute can prove to be not only an unpleasant chore, but can also put a strain on our health, and cause some to suffer from dangerous levels of stress and anxiety. An ideal solution to this dilemma is, of course, to find a job closer to our homes or, vice versa, rent or buy a place closer to our job location. In more cases than not, however, this strategy is extremely difficult to execute. Whether it is for family or financial reasons, most of us decide that a commute is the only feasible, if not the best, choice for us.
Thus, the next time you are stuck in traffic or sandwiched between two people on a crowded bus, remember that relaxation is the key. One of the effective ways to ease the anxiety is to concentrate on your breathing patterns - full, slow, deep breaths will relax the muscles in your body.
If you are using public transportation, bring a book or a newspaper to read - reading will help the time it takes to commute pass faster. If you get motion sickness easily and, thus, can't read while being in a moving vehicle, bring a CD player or an iPod with you and listen to your favorite songs to pump you up for the work day.
Finally, if your current work route is becoming too stressful for you, consider the alternatives. Maybe there is a different road or a different train you can take. Sometimes a longer but stress-free commute is much better than being stuck in a sea full of cars for hours. Consider car pooling, if you live near co-workers. Take turns driving every day so that each and every one of you can have days when they can relax in the back or passenger seat.
Sometimes we forget to take care of our health until an illness catches up with us. The best way to stay in top physical and mental condition is to take precautions and be responsible with our daily activities and routines. After all, with our health intact, we can perform better at work and still have the energy to lead enriching and energetic personal lives!
