Let’s face it, most jobs have a commute. What’s more, employees are always being sent on work-related missions across the city, country, or even the world. Whether it’s a brisk five minutes’ walk to your local office, a ten-minute car ride through rush hour, or forty minutes on the subway, most of us have to spend time traveling for work. In fact, studies find that in the US we spend around 26.1 minutes on average per one-way journey, which adds up to nearly nine full days per year.
That’s over a whole year of our entire working lives spent traveling to and from work. But is there a way to make the most out of traveling for work?
Learn While You Ride
For those who have to use public transport for traveling, this can be a good opportunity to both prepare for the day ahead and decompress from work. While many choose this time to fully wake up, others have begun using it to learn. In fact, podcasts have become increasingly popular among those workers who use them while commuting. So, we can make the most out of the train or bus trip by learning something about a topic we enjoy – be it work-related or not. These podcasts range from the broad and general to help widen your field of knowledge to the micro-niche.
Catch Up on Work
Many might consider commuting as dead time, but some employers let staff count the commute as part of their working day – as long as they use it to work. Some people, on trains that are less busy and have a plug and/or internet connection available, may want to get ahead with the working day, so they can finish earlier or have less to do during their working hours. Others, who might work freelance, take advantage of the commute to do other bits of work.
Company Car
Some employees are lucky enough to get a company car to ride in for longer distances or work trips. Car rides can be as engaging as you make them, and many choose to turn them into their personal discos, listening to music, the radio, or carefully cultivated playlists. A company car can help you save costs on your own car, keep your mileage low, and save on fuel that you can expense later. Just make sure that the company car has the correct commercial vehicle insurance and you should have peace of mind throughout your travel.
Saving the Commute as an Employer
If you’re running your own business, there are ways in which you could try to make getting to and leaving work more enjoyable or at least more efficient. Employers often implement staggered commuting times – allowing employees to arrive any time before 10 am and leave eight hours later. This hour around the commute could mean that journey times are slashed by avoiding rush hour. Other employers also factor in home working opportunities to skip rush hour. If this is something you want to implement as an employer, ensure that you have business insurance so that employees are able to work from home and are still protected from any issues that may occur – and that you as an employer are protected when employees are not operating under your business premises’ roof.
Get in Those Steps
There are many apps that help you keep track of your steps. Most suggest walking around 10,000 steps a day – and for those who sit at a desk, that can be difficult. But, if you are able to walk to work, not only will you help boost your green credentials, but you will be able to get these steps in. Not only can walking help keep you fit, but apps such as Sweatcoin help you earn tokens for the steps you take, which can be cashed in for goodies.
Cycle to Work
Employers are praised for their green initiatives, and often they will help implement a scheme that convinces people to take up cycling to work. Sometimes, they will help you purchase a bike and the equipment needed to keep you safe while you ride it. For those who enjoy cycling, riding a bike to work can help you get there quicker (despite rush hour!) and can help you do your bit for the planet. Cycling to work combines exercise, being green, and speeding to work, sometimes all on the company’s dime.
Traveling for work doesn’t have to feel like actual work. Whether you’re commuting to and from home or being asked to go halfway round the country, there are ways to make what you do enjoyable. These include methods to make driving, walking, cycling, and public transport more fun.