The daily commute can be both draining and expensive for the majority of us. According to the BBC, the average UK commute is 54 minutes, with Office for National Statistics figures showing 3.7 million workers travelling for two hours or longer! And it’s not just the time – according to a survey, the average UK employee spends £146 a month commuting, totalling £135,871 over a lifetime. So how can we make the dreaded commute better?
The International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring is the leading accreditation authority for professional coaches. Here, one of their accredited coaches, Jenny Butter, offers up 5 ways to improve your commute to work.
- Improve your health – rather than catching a bus or tube from a mainline station, why not try walking? Transport is expensive, so you can save yourself money and also pack in some extra exercise during the day. An average person walking for 20 minutes over 5 days will burn around 500 calories a week.
- Reduce stress – feeling out of control is a major contributing factor towards stress, so spend time on your commute going through a checklist to make sure you are on top of things at home and at work. Also, rather than reading the latest in depressing news or viewing idealist lives on social media, practice mindfulness or read an engrossing novel.
- Ask about flexi-working – many employers are open to flexi-working, so why not ask your boss? Rather than being stuck in the daily drudge that comes with a 9-5, explore the possibilities of a more flexible work life or even inquire about the possibility of home working and bin the commute altogether!
- Think about your dreams – whether you have an end goal or not, a commute is a fantastic way to either achieve one of your goals or begin planning them. Write that novel you’ve always wanted to write or imagine what you want to do with your life, then note down the steps required to get there.
- Change jobs – it might sound extreme, but if your commute to work is starting to drain the joy out of your life, it may be time to look elsewhere. If you’re struggling to improve your situation, why not hire an accredited coach to work with you so that you can obtain the job (and commute) that you want and need.