Long Commutes Can Affect Mental Well-Being

For some people, driving several hours to and from work is a normal occurrence. Others are used to taking long subway trips or several buses to get to their place of work.

Commuting can be stressful and unpleasant. Subways in major US cities are often dirty, crowded and sometimes unsafe. Public buses around the world can be found in a similar state.

For people who drive to and from work, bumper-to-bumper traffic and dealing with other drivers’ recklessness can be extremely frustrating. Rushing to beat traffic in order to get to work on time can also cause unnecessary stress.

In the short-run, a long and irritating commute can just seem like a minor inconvenience. In the long-run, however, the daily travel may be having a very real effect on your overall health.

Because of the stressful nature of a lengthy daily commute, anxiety and depression can develop. In addition to this, sitting for hours in a car or on a bus can be tiring enough to deter you from exercising once you reach home. Over time, the stress can build up and cause anger in addition to weight gain and general discontent.

A blog post for the New York Times describes how long commutes can have effects on health and happiness. The writer provides research and statistics related to commuting and physical and mental health.

If you want to know more about commuting and how it can affect you, you can read the post mentioned above by following the link provided here:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/commutings-hidden-cost/?_r=0

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