The Commute – the extra hour of your day

Last year I visited Switzerland and was amazed that during the summer months people commuted via the Zurich river. The fast-flowing river allowed people to jump in at the top and could float – swim to as far as Lake Zurich with people stopping en-route wherever they worked. They would pack their work clothes in a dry-bag and shower and get changed in the changing areas that dotted the banks.

This got me thinking as to the effect of the daily commute on your health and impact on your working day.

Recent studies show how detrimental a commute can be for your health. In particular research papers from the Royal Society of Public Health, Beijing University and another group in the University of Sweden link poor health with the further you live from your workplace.

In particular it is “non-active commuting” that has the most negative impact – that is commuting that does not involve walking, cycling or - at the most active commuting spectrum – running and swimming.

I have commuted in a variety of modes of transport but in the last 11 years I have only cycled.

I don’t want to be preachy, but I cannot emphasise the mental and physical benefits I have gained from the regular, daily cycle.

Working in recruitment, which is, at its heart is a sales position a certain degree of energy and focus is required. From the moment you are in the office you need to be switched on and thinking on your feet. As an industry recruitment has an early start, usually no later than 8am, allowing you to strategically plan the day and asses what needs to be done – as well as catching those notoriously hard to get hold of clients and candidates before the glut of daily meetings.

There is nothing worse than turning up after a 30 – 40-minute commute in a car or on a bus, drowsy, having had no fresh air, stuck in a stuffy vehicle, often stressed due to traffic and delays. Compare that to turning up having got your heart up to 100 + bpm, filling the lungs with fresh air, all the oxygen rushing through the brain – then slamming a cup joe (coffee) and you are much more prepared for the “colosseum of life”.

Admittedly the cycle or walk is not an option for many, and the “swim commute” even less. So, what can be done to improve the process of commuting to make it a more beneficial aspect of the day, rather than a negative impact? Especially when you spend up to 5 years of your life commuting to work, it’s definitely an area you want to make positive as opposed to negative!

Quick pace to the bus stop, or instead of the long drive, is there a park and ride you could cycle to, alternatively how about catching the bus or tube the next stop on from your starting point – just small adjustments can make a big difference. When you get to work don’t take the lift, take the stairs. This may feel so little a change as to make a difference but when you look at that over a period of 12 months you can create a big difference. Just 10 steps burns 2.3 calories, if you are on a higher floor and you climb 4 floors, as I do, and you do that in the morning and at lunch, that’s 8 x 2.3 = 18.4, per week 92 calories a week, that’s 368 extra calories burnt a month the equivalent of 1.6 Krispy Kreme ring doughnuts, over a 48 week year that’s 4416 calories or 20 ring doughnuts. That’s a lot of doughnut, but as I fast approach the big 4 – 0 every calorie burn counts! I know this digresses from the “commute” subject but the point is there – run for the bus, climb the stairs at the tube station, cycle where you can, walk when you can, get the heart pumping, the oxygen flowing and the endorphins buzzing on the daily commute and then that morning meeting will be much more effective due to your mood.

With many companies offering a “cycle to work” scheme and flexi-working time there are even greater incentives to ditch the sedentary commute. I have managed to purchase a 4 road and hybrid bikes through the scheme and reckon I have covered well over 15,000 miles just in my time at Venn Group, with an estimated travel saving of nearly ￡14,000!! That ￡14,000 went most of the way to the deposit of the flat I bought, rented out and made an increase of ￡100,000 – so really commuting by bike has made me nearly ￡115,000 all in –

What do these ramblings amount to? Your commute may take up a substantial amount of your life. Make the most it. Get moving. Cycle. Walk. Save money, the environment and be healthier. If you can’t then – take the stairs, briskly walk to that bus or train and don’t use that lift/

Calculate your commute info here:

https://infographics.fordmedia.eu/commuting2016/