| Over the last thirty years the daily commute has | | | | everything ready so you can leave on time? A bit of |
| increased from maybe a mile at most to over thirty | | | | thought and planning can make your morning much |
| miles, with some people traveling as much as a | | | | more relaxing and stop you having to eat your |
| hundred miles just to go to their job. | | | | breakfast on the run. |
| With the rise of decentralized communities, parents | | | | 6 - Mindset |
| driving children to school, and the demise of public | | | | When you are driving realize that everyone else on |
| transport, traffic levels have risen and commuting has | | | | the road are doing the same as you - trying to get to |
| turned from a relatively pleasant experience to a | | | | work. Realize that the slow moving vehicle in front of |
| potentially life threatening journey from hell. | | | | you is not out to deliberately torment you, but is doing |
| In my regular commute (ninety five miles each way) I | | | | their job as best they can. A change of mindset so |
| know that at least once a day someone on the road | | | | you no longer interpret every event as stressful will |
| will do their best to kill me. If I am fortunate enough | | | | help to make you much more relaxed. |
| they miss, then I know at least once a week my ninety | | | | 7 - Defensive Driving |
| five mile journey will take me over five hours due to | | | | With the increased crowding on the roads it is starting |
| accidents, the weather, tractors or the phase of the | | | | to get dangerous out there. Take a defensive driving |
| moon. | | | | course and learn how to protect yourself whilst on the |
| Commuting is stressful. I know it is and any of you | | | | road. It will help make you more aware of the risks |
| who travel any distance to work know it is. Whether | | | | and help you avoid them, which will reduce your stress |
| you choose public transport or to drive it will get | | | | levels. |
| stressful. | | | | 8 - Take A Break |
| Whilst there is no cure for commuting stress, you can | | | | If you are driving a long distance for your commute |
| minimize and prepare for the day. | | | | then take a break and stretch your legs. Sitting in a car |
| 1 - Be Prepared | | | | for a long time gets stressful and tiring and recent |
| Being prepared for your journey is an excellent stress | | | | medical research has shown it increases your risk of |
| reducer. This means take some food with you, | | | | deep vein thrombosis. |
| something to drink, some music or audio books and | | | | 9 - Take A Different Route |
| even a real book! This means that if you do get stuck | | | | Make sure you know a number of different routes to |
| you are prepared and can enjoy yourself rather than | | | | work and vary it on occasion. These helps to keep the |
| getting frustrated like everyone else. | | | | journey more interesting and hence less stressful. It |
| 2 - Timing | | | | also allows you to take a different route in case of |
| The timing of your journey is critical. I discovered during | | | | any jams, which means you do not get the stress of |
| one commute that leaving my house just ten minutes | | | | sitting in the queue of traffic. |
| early saved me a half hour of sitting in traffic. | | | | 10 - Back Massager |
| Experiment with new and alternative routes that may | | | | An in car back massaging cushion can be a godsend. |
| be quicker and avoid main roads. | | | | I'm having a love affair with mine at the moment and |
| 3 - Working Hours | | | | thing it is fantastic. It really helps to relieve the tension in |
| If you can, change your working hours so that you can | | | | the lower back that comes from sitting in the car so |
| avoid the daily jams. Can you work from 8 to 4 or 10 | | | | long. |
| until 6? This will help you to avoid the traffic and will | | | | 11 - Change Your Job |
| probably make you much more productive. | | | | Finally, if your commute is too much - change your job. |
| 4 - Be Well Rested | | | | Finding a job closer to home can have serious |
| There is nothing worse than driving in heavy traffic | | | | implications for your stress levels and quality of life, and |
| when tired. Not only are you risking your own life, but | | | | I highly recommend it. |
| potentially you are risking other peoples too. Get plenty | | | | If you can reduce the stress of getting to work, then |
| of sleep so that you are refreshed before you | | | | you will be better able to focus and perform at work, |
| commute. If you travel on public transport then you | | | | reducing your stress levels further. |
| may have the chance to catch up on your sleep then, | | | | If you can reduce the stress of getting home then you |
| though make sure you don't miss your stop! | | | | will be able to enjoy your family life and your |
| 5 - Plan Your Morning | | | | relationships more. |
| Do you end up running around the house like a | | | | Follow these top tips for reducing your commuting |
| headless chicken in the morning trying to get | | | | stress and reap the benefits! |