Our thinking

A Good Trip

27 May, 2022

For many of us, the thought of returning to a daily commute is unimaginable. But believe it or not, it might have been good for you. 

For one thing, for many people it was a guaranteed period of daily physical activity. There’s evidence to suggest that those who walk, cycle or even take public transport to work every day have a lower BMI and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Waistlines grew during the pandemic and losing the daily commute could have unexpected health consequences for a vast number of people.   

The commute was also good for your mental health, an opportunity for some time alone, a space with limited distractions and an opportunity to transition to and from your work persona, alongside the mental benefits of routine, in the form of a more fixed sleeping pattern, eating habits, even getting dressed properly.  

So if you’re spending more or all your time working from home, you could try a ‘fake commute’. This involves establishing a walk or cycle route, using some of the time you would have usually taken getting to work, to ‘travel’ to your WFH office and then to power down at the end of the day. This way, you recapture the benefits of a commute without feeling like you’re back in the daily grind.  

Businesses are realising what has been lost by employees not being in the office every day and trying to mitigate those effects. Yet it may also be time to focus on the less obvious impacts on health and wellbeing that has resulted from the shift to working from home more.   

By Jessie Smith