Monday, 07 November 2011
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HuffPost Agrees: My Commute is Ruining Me
I've always considered commute time when applying for (and accepting) job opportunities. While I'll really travel anywhere in the world, I don't want my commute to be too long; not only does a long commute diminish your social life, but it is physically exhausting to work eight or more hours when you tag a long commute to the start and end of your day.
Many people give me slack for complaining about my 120+ minute daily commute, but I'm happy to report that HuffPost has got my back on this one. According to a new report, your daily commute to work can *actually* damage your health.
I take the bus - more than an hour each way - every day to get to/from work. So when I read the opening of this article, I was drawn.
HuffPost writes, "If your daily commute involves your car, the subway or a bus, a new study suggests the trip may be linked with extra stress, exhaustion, poor sleep and possibly even an increase in missed work days."
The article even went on to say that "researchers found that women's commutes were generally shorter than men's, but that women's psychological health was more affected by the commute than men's."
This makes me think - could commute-related stress/health issues be addressed by insurance companies? Is it possible to track health problems back to your commute? I'm not sure of the answers to either of these questions, but it would be interesting to learn why or why not.
To some people, this may seem like a "DUH!!!" post, but hear me out. How often do you consider your commute and its connection to your health? Many people consider commute time when they're looking for a job, but is it because they're considering possible health issues, or is it because they don't want to set the alarm for 6 AM? I'm not sure.
I do know one thing for sure: since I started my daily 120+ minute commute, I've been more exhausted/cranky than ever, and my mind is all over the place.
What do you think about this article? Do you consider possible commute-induced health problems when looking for jobs? Is your current commute hurting your health?
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About the Author
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- From: msenergydrink
- About Me: While I tried to stay in college for as long as I possibly could, I picked up a Psychology minor, forcing myself to learn a little about mental health. What I didn't know was how closely linked mental and physical health, are to each other. Now that I've graduated, I've enjoyed writing about all different aspects of health for Healthkicker. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that there's no way to live healthy unless you're happy, too. I'm hoping to be able to give as much insight as I can, while picking up a few tips from everyone along the way!
 If there was one drink I could not live with, it'd be WATER. While I do thrive off of energy drinks, I drink about 15 glasses of water a day. As far as my favorite foods go, I'll eat anything with cheese, chicken, and asparagus. Also, ANY kind of fruit!
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Comments (11)
I don't drive and I'm less stressed that way. I have a learning disorder which makes visual/spatial things hard for me to learn/comprehend. It's a lot easier for me to ride the bus and even if I do get my license, if possible, I'll bus to work.
I become more stressed when I realize I have to walk 20 minutes to work in Phoenix weather. Personally, driving makes me feel at ease. When I leave work at night I don't run the risk of being jumped (I'm a waitress and walk home with cash).
I don't drive. I walk into work (I work evenings), and it takes me 20-30 minutes, which is fine and it's about 2 miles so I get some exercise. My parents pick me up now it's winter, though, just for my safety because it's pitch black when I finish at 10pm. However, in summer I walk home still because it's not really dark outside and it's good exercise for me. Plus or neighbourhood is really safe and I've never been worried about getting mugged or anything.
I drive. I live in the "Valley of the Sun" and let me tell you... I absolutely hate most of the drivers in this town, especially on the freeway. Driving consideration has gone out the window and no one, and I mean no one, here follows any of the common courtesy rules or even most of thelaws while driving here. It is very stressful. I have to drive from one end of the vally to the other everyday during the work week. I am never late and I never call out sick, unless it is hospital bound we go. I would rather get sent home from work than fail to show up. I love my job, but the commute can be so stressful and its like, when you drive a smaller car like I do, that no one even considers you there. I have had so many people cut me off, almost drive in to me, or tailgate to the point where it makes me move in to another lane... I think my biggest pet peeve while driving is that people have no concept of what a blinker is anymore. they just simply think they are entitled to be anywhere they want on the road... Let me tell you they DON'T. I just got in to work from my commute about 15 - 20 minutes ago. God bless them all. (I have complained about the drivers out here in one of my posts).
The funny thing is I absolutely Love to drive, except to and from work. Thank goodness for a nice cup of coffee when I get to work. I can normally smile after that. :)
Over the summer I commuted back and forth for an hour and half and I thought that was rough. A 2hr + commute everyday? Eek! Hope you're doing okay!
I take the bus to school everyday. Shit's killing me.
I'm right there with you girl.
I take the train (El) or bus to my internship and school everyday. sometimes on lake shore drive the traffic can be really bad. i get stressed out when i'm close to running late or I am late even when I wake up extra early to make sure i'm on the bus. the train is better, but sometimes they're delayed or a few run express by me. i have no other option though since i don't have a car and I think it would be just as bad in one of the worst traffic cities (chicago)
I have an hour and fifteen minute commute to work (that's only one way so in total its actually two and a half hour commute every day) . I know I don't get good sleep on the train as I would have at home but then I am glad I can take public transit versus driving since I hear of others having a 2+ commute (like yourself) and they have to drive in to work to do an 8 hour shift (I find that crazy cause that means you are at least out of the house for 12+ hours; there's only 24 hours in a day and you obviously can't get the full rest you need in that time frame). So I totally agree with it affecting your health (hence I am seeking a job with a shorter commute, which means closer to home and preferably accessible via public transit so I have the option to train/bus or drive in).
Hi
Unfortunately driving 50 miles each way everyday messed up with my psychology. Paying almost $700 a month for the gas and bridge not a good idea. I got so angry many times and try to ask god to help me. he didn't. And eventough i asked my wife to move closer, she didn't listen to me.
Now i am getting divorce. i have a very patient nice ,wife but one night i blew up so bad at home and yelled, not to her and she got so scared. She doesn't want to be with me anymore, I drove 9 years everyday 3 hours and one nite blow up causing my marrieage end. i am a very nice and calm man
and i saw so much stressed that nite undercouncious in me. i am so regretfull but she doesn't listen.
I don't reccomend to drive too long.
Have nice day
I don't have too rough of a drive to my summer job, hopefully the drive to my internship in the fall will be the same!