Getting to work can be stressful. Sitting in heavy traffic watching the minutes tick by and getting more and more agitated as you realize you could be late for work is not a healthy way for anyone to travel. Have you ever thought there could be a healthier and more relaxing way to tackle your commute? Here are some great ways to make your commute to work healthier and relieve stress.
Walk
Depending on how far your journey is, walking could be a great option for your commute. Getting out into the great outdoors is healthier for you both physically and mentally. It will give you time to think about your day and prepare for it in the mornings and give you a chance for reflection in the evenings.
Run
If you are feeling energetic or you live a little further away from your place of work running could be a great way to travel. If you work in a large building, they may be able to provide you with a shower on arrival and a locker to keep your running clothes. You may decide to drive to work one day per week to drop off clothes and a fresh towel, but you could run the other days. If this sounds a little too much for you to start with, you could try a combination of walking and running and build yourself up so that you are running there and back every day. You will be amazed at how energized this makes you feel, as well as how many pounds it could help you lose.
Cycle
Cycling is a great way to get to work and it may not take you any longer than driving would because you will not need to sit in traffic. Consult a map of your route to work and you may be surprised to find that there are some shortcuts that you never knew existed. These may not be accessible by car but might be easy on a bike and might reduce your journey by several miles.
You may need to buy a few things to get you started but once you have these you are ready to go. Obviously, there is the cost of buying a bike if you don’t already have one, but this does not need to be expensive. Look online for second-hand bikes being sold in your area and you could pick yourself up a great bargain. You will also need to buy a few accessories such as a cycle helmet, which is best to buy new, and a good lock.
The bicycle insurance cost can be expensive, but don’t forget about it, especially if you are going to leave your bike in one place for a long time while you are at work. This blog post on bicycle insurance cost is certainly worth reading. Velosurance offers bicycle insurance that will cover you if your bike is lost or stolen. They cover the full value of your bike, which offers peace of mind.
Car
If you have to commute quite a way, then you may have no choice but to take your car. However, that does not mean that you can’t be healthy. Try to park a few streets away from your workplace and walk for the last ten minutes or so. This is a fantastic idea if you work in a city center, as it is often the last mile that makes your commute so long. You can avoid the traffic by parking on the edge of town rather than trying to fight your way in. If you have to pay for parking, this might save you money as you pay a premium for more centrally located parking lots. This means that your bank balance will be healthier too.
Train
A great option for a longer commute is to travel by train. Walk to and from the station if you want to be really healthy and spend your commute reading a book or relaxing which is a much healthier way to get to work than getting annoyed at the drivers around you. You could even pack a breakfast to eat on your journey and traveling by train will mean that you always have time to eat it. Letting the train take the strain is a wonderful way to start and end the day as it gives you the gift of time that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Being healthy could be a lot easier than you think. Follow some of these tips to help you achieve a healthier commute to work and you will be amazed by how energized and ready for work they will make you feel. Your colleagues will be amazed by your energy and motivation during your working day and your boss will be impressed too. It may even be time to ask for a raise.
