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We Need a Remote Work Commute
Perhaps commuting wasn’t so bad after all
Your train is running behind schedule, and you’re going to be late for work for the second time this week. Worse, you got drenched on the walk to the station, and you can already smell the damp from your shoes. You look inside your sodden bag and realize you forgot your lunch. It’s only early morning, and you already wish the day was over. To make matters worse, you’ll have to repeat this ritual in around 9 hours, stuck shoulder to shoulder with other disgruntled passengers all just desperate to get home.
When the world of work went remote, I, like many others, rejoiced at the prospect of regaining the time I typically spent commuting. It was universally hated afterall. Research from 2006 showed the morning commute between home and the office was the least enjoyable activity of the day, while the return journey was not far behind. I can be forgiven for bragging about this quarantine-benefit in my search for silver linings in the earlier days of lockdown. “I’ve got an extra 3 hours a day back, think of how productive I’m going to be!” I dreamed of finally getting round to projects and activities that had long sat on the back burner.
In reality, converting that time into something beneficial was challenging; often, it was a complete failure. And, the longer I go commute-less, the more I realize that the process of traveling to work has many benefits that we could all do with restoring to our daily schedules.
There’s no denying that commuting has its bugbears, some of which are quite serious. According to a study by the NHS, 55% said they felt more stressed due to their commute, 41% did less physical activity, and 33% said the journey contributed to extra calorie intake. Another study found that commuting significantly impacted time spent with family and friends.
But on the flip-side, the process gives us valuable alone time, precious minutes to think and learn, and an opportunity to practice aspects of self-care. During my commute, I would consume podcasts at a frightening rate, read books, take power naps, phone friends and more. My commute also involved 30 minutes of walking each way, which was good for my health, mind, and step count.
