Is a long commute bad for you? (2024)

Is a long commute bad for you?

Data from the US showed that more time spent on the daily commute was related to higher levels of fatigue and stress during commuting [12]. Clark et al. [9] found that longer commute times were associated with lower job and leisure time satisfaction, increased strain, and poorer mental health.

How long is too long for a commute?

Those numbers get even higher when you consider professionals with extreme commutes. The U.S. Census Bureau defines extreme commuters as those who travel 90 minutes or more each way to work.

Is a long commute bad for your health?

Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Blood Sugar All Increase

Researchers from the School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Cooper Institute in Dallas reported that commuting at least 20 miles on the road each day can lead to higher cholesterol. A rise in cholesterol leads you susceptible to heart disease or a stroke.

How much of a commute is too far?

Defining the Commute Threshold

Generally, a commute of 30 minutes to an hour is often seen as acceptable by many. This time frame allows individuals to tackle the journey without excessive fatigue and time wastage.

What is considered long distance commute?

Additionally, this research defines long-distance commuters as workers who travel 50 miles or more to work, one-way. And mega commuters as those who combine these two definitions and travel 90 minutes or more and 50 miles or more to work, one-way.

Is a long commute a reason to quit?

Leaving a role because of a long and expensive commute is a reasonable decision, says LinkedIn Top Voice Kirstin Ferguson.

Is it worth driving 1 hour to work?

If you have to commute to get a better position, I'm with the others on this post—it's probably worth it, at least in the short term. If you make more money and you're not spending every dime of that extra money on gas and travel expenses, I'd say taking a title bump and getting more experience would be worth it.

Why is commuting so miserable?

Previous studies have shown that commuting affects our physical health: commuters are less likely to take exercise or eat home cooked meals while being more likely to suffer from insomnia and joint pain. It makes sense that such bodily ailments should impact on mental health.

What is a healthy commute time?

However, many experts suggest that a commute of 30-60 minutes one way is generally considered reasonable for most people. This can vary based on factors such as access to public transportation, traffic conditions, and personal tolerance for commuting.

Is a 30 minute commute worth it?

Whether a 30-minute commute is worth it depends on individual preferences and circ*mstances. Some people may find a 30-minute commute manageable and worth it for a job they love, a lower cost of living, or other personal reasons. Others may prioritize living closer to work to minimize commute time.

How far should I live from work?

If you live farther from work, you can usually afford a bigger house or apartment. But there's a point where that journey becomes too onerous, and you are willing to sacrifice some of those desires to live closer to your job. That point on average seems to be between 20 and 30 minutes.

Is 90 minutes too long of a commute?

People who commute 90 minutes or more are more likely to have back and neck pain, and long commute times also up your blood pressure and anxiety levels.

How far can a job make you travel?

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.

Is 30 minutes a long work commute?

We all kind of know this fact. Once you get more than 30 minutes away from your job, no matter how you actually come into work, it starts to feel like a chore.

How far do most people commute to work?

The average one-way commute for Americans is 27.6 minutes. New York City, NY, has the longest average commute time in the U.S. at 34.7 minutes. Since 1980, the average American commute time has increased by 27% (From 21.7 minutes to 27.6 minutes). The average American commutes 41 miles a day to and from work.

How far is too far to walk to work?

It varies, but there are definite rules of thumb that can help. The most important thing to consider is how far you can comfortably walk without stopping. It should take you no more than 30 minutes to get to the office if you're working from home, but if you have to travel farther to get there, this can cause problems.

Why do employers not pay for commute?

For employees who usually report to the same fixed location, employers don't control the duration of the ordinary commute; as a result, the company doesn't have to pay for that time. Employees choose where to live, and their commuting times may range from a few minutes to more than an hour.

How do I turn down my job because of commute?

Thank you so much for offering me the [Job Title]. After giving this a lot of thought, I have decided to decline the opportunity. The commute seems too arduous, and I won't be able to perform to my best since long commutes can negatively impact productivity, health, and happiness. It was a pleasure meeting you.

Why do so many people commute to work?

Why do so many people commute around an hour for work? Because often times the places where the jobs are more expensive to live in than the places further from the jobs.

How do you survive a 2 hour commute?

What are the negative effects of commuting?

Research has linked long commutes to a host of negative health impacts, from increased stress and poorer cardiovascular health to greater pollution exposure.

Is driving 2 hours a day a lot?

“We know that regularly driving for more than two to three hours a day is bad for your heart. This research suggests it is bad for your brain, too, perhaps because your mind is less active in those hours," said Kishan Bakrania, a PhD student at the university's Department of Health Sciences.

Why a long commute to work is bad?

Headaches, concentration troubles, and road-rage-induced anger can jeopardize your health. The longer and more frequent the journey, the worse these conditions could be. These issues can become too hard to bear for so-called extreme commuters or those who spend multiple hours of each day traveling to and from work.

Is commuting good for your brain?

A recent study found commutes can provide a "liminal space" – a time to psychologically switch gears. Researchers found that commuters were able to detach and mentally transition from their home roles, to their liminal space, and recover for work.

Why is commuting so depressing?

Specifically, transportation as a social determinant of health is likely to affect mental health (Marmot, 2005). For drivers, stress from traffic, travel delay uncertainty, and long travel times are likely to impact mental health (e.g. (Martin et al., 2014)).