Why is work more often than not on the opposite side of town? It creates a killer commute. Driving that much just isn’t good for our mind, our health, nor our marriages. Check out this week’s infographic – The Killer Commute.
Cube Dweller Commutes
For much of my career I spent my morning and evening commuting through Minneapolis. I lived in the northwest suburbs and worked in the south or south-west suburbs. Crazy. Most of the time I learned to relax and enjoy the ride. It was my decompression-time. I tried not to time my commute so I didn’t get frustrated, or stressed, about how long it took.
Did it always work … of course not. Pile people in their cars and flood the roadways with more traffic than they can handle. The result is cube dwellers staring at brake lights wishing they were somewhere else. As if working in a cubicle didn’t provide enough stress already.
The Italian Secret
One thing that stuck out to me while pouring through the infographic … I could deal with a 30 minute commute in Italy. Think about it. What types of vehicles come to mind? Alfa Romeo, Ferarri, Fiat, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pininfarina and then there are the Italian motorcycles like Aprilia (my current ride), Ducati (my prior ride), moto Guzzi, or MV Agusta (my dream ride).
Okay so I have to take you on a side adventure. Really this about your health and why your commute is killing you. Seriously – okay not so seriously. As a cube dweller I am drawn in by elegant design and well done marketing. The MV Agusta Brutale quickly jumped onto my dream list. While watching this video just think about your commute if you were riding an MV Agusta Brutale and ask two things: Would your commute be less stressful? Would it most likely take less time?
That ad is over 5 years old and it still pulls me in and gets my adrenaline pumping. whew! sigh!
Okay where were we? Yes, the killer commute. Now that I pulled you into my OCD with some amazing Italian engineering and wonderfully done marketing let’s get back to the killer commute. Those Italians may be onto something to minimize their commute. They are listed as having the shortest commute in the study. Strange? Perhaps not.
Here in the states I’m just overjoyed if people remember they are supposed to stay right, except to pass. Ugh, I felt my blood pressure jump up slightly at just the thought of slow left-laners. Our commute to work, filled with tiny stresses, can build up to work against our attempts at being healthy. Check out the ways our commute can become the killer commute.
Infographic – The Killer Commute
Created by: CollegeAtHome.com
How About Your Commute?
How do you deal with your commute? Have you found ways to keep your stress-level down even when stuck in a line of vehicles longer than the eye can see? Let’s hear it.
Troy this is a fantastic infographic you have, and we will be sharing it with our readers. Spending long hours commuting in a single vehicle is one of the worst things you can do to your neck and back, and can cause lasting spinal damage.
If possible, stop in the middle of your commute and stretch your body. This takes a bit longer, but your back will thank you for it.
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Dr Basic Spine, What stretches would you recommend mid-commute? We just finished a road trip and I’m often the one eager to stop at just about every rest area, park, or exit just to get out and move a little. It does make the trip take longer, but … it is more enjoyable.
-Troy
Even a 20 minute drive can be a killer commute if you allow yourself to be harried by other reckless or inconsiderate drivers. I found that having my favorite music playing (just a bit lower than the normal volume)helps me keep my senses lulled but not to the point that I lose concentration. For longer trips, stopping by at every possible rest area is a good one, I do this myself, too and it really is quite fun.
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Amy, I’ve been accused of stopping at every rest area (and even some spots that just appear like a rest area).
Thinking of music, I also find that podcasts and audio books are great for longer rides.
Great graphic! Interesting, but not surprising, that you equate “commuting” with “driving a car”. I know this is true for most Americans, but for many of us, it’s not. But since many people can’t just reduce their commute by 20 minutes, maybe it would be helpful to look at other options. Do we know whether it’s more or less healthy to commute by car vs. public transit, for example? And biking or walking to work is actually good for your health, if the infrastructure safely allows it — a commute can be an opportunity to exercise. And a carpool can be an opportunity to increase those social connections. I would like to see some numbers on the benefits of non-single car commutes, as opposed to just the negatives of car commutes!
Nora,
Those are excellent questions. There are both physical, mental, and physiological effects of the commute.
And yes, I do fall prey to the typical American assumption that a commute is driving in a car. Like baseball and apple pie; we drive and consume excessive gasoline.
There are options. Each of those options would have affect on all three physical, mental, and physiological aspects of commuting.
I know for me commuting on my Ducati through Minneapolis was actually a stress-relief. Surprisingly, driving my Aprilia during the commute here in Colorado Springs (a much smaller city) is much more stressful. The roads are worse, the drivers don’t notice motorcycles, and the number of limo-tinted car windows is “off the charts”.
Still I’m with you that more research on commuting options would be excellent.
Interesting infographic. One comment I have is that the analogy of water in a funnel is actually not drastic enough. Commonly in transportation planning circles, it’s preferable to compare traffic to rice or gravel through a funnel. If there is enough that can flow through the spout freely, there is no problem. But when you congest the spout, the volume of flow DECREASES compared to free flow. In the water analogy, the more water the faster the flow due to the pressure the water in the funnel exerts on the water below it. This is the opposite of what happens in the real world, where that extra pressure slows the flow down.
Michael, So true. I worked with a mechanical engineer back when I was designing laser sensors and robotics who would have used the term stiction. The water through a funnel analogy doesn’t off the stiction that appears when more pressure is applied, like it would with either sand or gravel.
I ride my bike to work every day. My commute is about 30 minutes in the morning (downhill) and 40 in the afternoon (uphill).
Sam, commute and cardio in one nice little package – perfect.