Creative Ways to Make Your Commute Better [-_-]

​Commuting is a necessary evil for many workers in cities across the United States. A recent study by the Robert Half Executive Recruiting Firm reported that the average commute time in San Francisco, CA was 59.20 minutes! That’s the average time it takes for employees to arrive at work in the City, including people who live in San Francisco and those who do not. For many, commuting can be a daunting and stressful daily event. Here are some things to try and see if you can’t make the experience a little better:

1. Find a new route to work. It may sound like this option could add more stress than take it away, but think about it. It’s a simple way to exercise your brain and make the journey less monotonous and routine. Take the scenic route if you drive or discover new lines and stops with public transportation. Sure, it takes a little extra planning, but you might enjoy mixing it up a little, and who knows, you might discover something new to do: a new coffee shop to try, a new street to explore.
   
2. Combat stress. This may sound counterintuitive, but use what many would call a given stressful activity to take some time and relax. It’s as simple as framing it in such a way that you can enjoy the process rather than get stressed out. Once you mentally establish that you do in fact have control because it was your decision to work and commute (this can help reduce anxiety), pick out a few activities that can directly combat the stress of your commute. A couple suggestions: listen to classical music, schedule phone calls with old friends and family members to catch up, listen to podcasts about pleasant things, practice mindfulness, unplug.
   
3. Carpool. Gas prices are always rising and people are flocking to already highly-populated areas. This calls for the strategic efficiency of carpool. While it might be uncomfortable sharing such small spaces with strangers first thing in the morning, think of it as a good way to meet people who you have things in common with. You live relatively close to each other and work in the same general area. Check out this article from Mashable with more than 25 resources for carpooling: https://mashable.com/2008/09/30/carpooling/#W9CfGtJvDZq2
   
4. Invest in some commuter-friendly shoes. You can look good and professional while wearing shoes that meet your commuting needs. Even if you drive to work, it never hurts to be wearing the right shoes.
   

The entire experience does not need to be unpleasant. Day in and day out, it is a time set apart that you can choose to fill. Try some new things so that the time spent commuting to and from work can be more enjoyable!

Do you have any tips or suggestions to making the average commute a more pleasant experience? Let us know in the comments!