Is a long commute bad for your health?

Research has linked long commutes to a host of negative health impacts, from increased stress and poorer cardiovascular health to greater pollution exposure. Here, learn how your commute can negatively impact your health, and the simple measures you can take to offset the detrimental effects.

How long is too long for a commute?

Commutes longer than 45 minutes are up 12 percent in that time span, and 90-minute one-way commutes are 64 percent more common than in 1990. The longer your commute, the less time you have for family, friends, exercise and nutrition—and it's awful for your mental state.

How long is a healthy commute?

Most people don't want their commute to be too long or too short. It turns out the scientifically determined ideal commute time averages out to be 16 minutes — not long enough to feel like you're wasting time, but not too short so you can catch up on the news or the latest podcast.

Is a long commute bad for your car?

Damaging Driving

Engine – When you drive in rush hour traffic, your engine will be left idling longer than usual, which means weak engine ventilation. This can lead to carbon build-up in your engine, which can be the beginning of some costly damage. You may find that you need to change your oil more often, as well.

Is a long commute to work worth it?

A longer commute might not be bad in the beginning but think about it day after day – it might get tiring. If you are renting, it could be easier to pick up and move. Determine if relocation is possible if the commute is unbearable, and calculate the impact a move would have on the budget.

It's not you. Commuting is bad for your health.

How far is too far for a daily commute?

If your drive to work and back home exceeds 2 hours, then it is definitely too far. This means that your daily commute takes at least 8.3% of your day. Here are a few examples to better illustrate how much of your day you spend driving to work: 1-hour commute = 4.1%

Is a 90 minute commute too long?

The average U.S. commute to work of 26.1 minutes each way looks like a quick trip around the block compared to the travel times posted by extreme commuters. The U.S. Census Bureau defines extreme commuters as workers who travel 90 minutes or more each way to work.

What does commuting do to your body?

'Most commuters using active transport such as cycling, walking and public transport report greater health benefits,' Dr Nuttman says. 'Regular physical activity increases life expectancy and reduces the risk of chronic illness or death, stress, depression and anxiety. '

How far should you live from work?

Thirty minutes at most, according to the wisdom of the crowds. That comes from reams of data and piles of research that suggests commute times tend to cluster around this point.

Is it worth driving an hour to work?

If this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it could very well be worth it. But if this is just another job that you could easily get anywhere else, it might not be. If you decide to go for it, you may want to consider some additional insurance coverage, particularly mechanical breakdown insurance.

Do commutes make people unhappy?

The Swiss study, which drew on 19 years worth of detailed information from Germany, found that people with long commutes had "systematically lower subjective well-being" and less life satisfaction than their non-commuting counterparts. And this effect seems to last over many years.

Is it better to live near work?

More than half (57 percent) of Americans surveyed said it's important to them to live in close proximity to their work, specifically to lessen their environmental impact or carbon footprint.

What is a bad commute?

Katie Acosta, a director in marketing communications who works for a technology company in the San Francisco Bay Area, has what is considered an extreme commute — defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as taking more than 90 minutes to travel to work, each way.

Is a 1 hour commute normal?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average one-way daily commute for U.S. workers is 25.5 minutes. Shapiro is among the 8 percent of workers who have commutes of an hour or longer. In fact, he's considered a “mega-commuter” because he commutes at least an hour and a half and 50 miles.

Why is a long commute good?

Most of us are not completely different people in those two domains. Nonetheless, they often require a different way of thinking, acting, and reacting — that is how it should be. Commutes help us separate those two parts of ourselves, set healthy boundaries between them, and avoid burnout.

Does commuting make you tired?

It's no secret researchers believe people who are working long hours and commuting longer distances are too tired to exercise. The stress is causing problems with their sleep.

Is a 45 minute commute too long?

People who started the study with a commute of less than 45 minutes were more likely to extend their travel time, so that they could move to a better area, buy a home of their own, or take a more desirable job. “We find that 45 minutes is an inflection point where the behavioural preference changes.

What is an average commute distance?

According to data analyzed by Jerry, the average round trip to and from work in the U.S. is over 41 miles a day. The health effects of commuting are serious, but there are strategies to reduce their impact. At the same time, choosing a job that's closer to home can improve your life more than you might think.

What is reasonable distance to travel for work?

Legislation does not define what constitutes a reasonable daily travel distance. This means that there is no legal maximum distance; instead, you should consider the scope of any mobility clause and use common sense, taking into account local traffic or travel conditions based on the additional commute.

What problems are caused by commuting?

Physical symptoms range from headaches and backaches to digestive problems and high blood pressure. Mental ills include sleep disturbances, fatigue and concentration problems. Commuters who drive have it especially hard—bad weather, traffic jams and accidents all cause stress.

Is 10 miles a long commute?

A 10-mile commute is not a very long one, but it is not a short one either. Thus, you will need to make sure you get the right bike, as the longer your commute is, the more uncomfortable it can be if you don't get the right one.

How do you survive a long commute?

How do you think you could save money if you have a long commute to work?

What is the average commute time in California?

California residents spend an average of 29.3 minutes commuting to work, the sixth longest commute among the states that Coverage.com studied in an analysis using pre-coronavirus data. About 12.2% of commuters in the state have one-way travel times exceeding one hour, according to the analysis.

How do you unwind while commuting?