The daily commute – heaven or hell?
The answer is probably not going to be heaven, however as this journey is often endured each and every day, we wonder, is there a way to make the commute a little more mentally and physically healthy?
Ask a commuter how they feel about the act of commuting and they will often tell the tale of a pretty soulless human experience. Just look at the people around you, often plugged in to their tech and tuned out of the here and now.
It’s no surprise people choose to be zoned out of the moment, when the conditions are cramped and both mentally and physically unhealthy. We think it’s travel not fit for human welfare, yet frequently accepted as the norm.
It’s time
If you can look at the train commute as a period of time at your disposal, this just might help. With seating often not possible it’s so tempting to stare at a phone or tablet, which is not ideal for posture and also a heavy load for your mind.
We’ve written about taking mindful minutes at work and this is something that you can incorporate into your daily commute. You might be seated and be able to use an app, like Headspace or you may just want to stand and ground yourself and be aware of your breath, feel your feet in your shoes or watch as the world outside the window passes you by.
This is a good way to prepare yourself for work, reducing the anxiety of perhaps only just making the train in time. It’s a time you can use to allow yourself to unplug and experience a more relaxed start to your day.
Making it mindful
You arrive at your destination, so what next? A dash to the tube for a completely inhumane experience, as you find yourself caught in a crush of bodies with no personal space and a sense that this is what a sardine feels like, canned.
We believe that this unproductively busy and overly connected way of living and working isn’t going to be sustainable, long term. It’s something we only get away with… until…
What if you made time to walk to your office spaces and meetings, unless it’s blowing a gale?
You arrive at your destination, so what next? A dash to the tube for a completely inhumane experience, as you find yourself caught in a crush of bodies with no personal space and a sense that this is what a sardine feels like, canned.
This is a good opportunity to mindfully take in your surroundings, be more connected with your personal here and now and less with your tech.
So that’s more:
- Natural air
- Movement
- Brain space
- Time to look at the world through fresh eyes
Do you do something to make your commute a little closer to heaven? We’d love to hear.
