Lovin’ the commute? It can be good for your mental health, one expert argues

Mia Jensen

September 24, 2024

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More people returning to in-person work means a return to commuting. But while many dread spending their time before and after work slogging through traffic or squeezed onto a bus, one wellness expert says there are ways to make the most of the experience. Ottawa consultant Erinn Yakabuski knows it isn’t a popular position, but she says that, with the right mindset, commuting can be a much-needed buffer for busy people. “The time between work and home is a really important transition period for your mental health, for your stress management and for your well-being,” she told OBJ Monday. “When we go from having a full day of stressful work activities, if we’re working from home, we kind of just slam down our laptop and go right into home world; being a parent, being a spouse, taking on those responsibilities. There’s no transition period where you can release the tension of the day.” Of course, people commute in many different ways, she says. For some, the wellness benefit is inherent. For example, walkers and bikers have the advantage of engaging in a physical activity, which she says can be a stress reliever on its own. But even those who drive or take transit can make commuting work for them. “You can release the tension of the day, you can close the stress cycle and kind of give yourself a moment to breathe before going on to the next thing,” she said. “It gives you an opportunity to close that chapter of the day and then set a new intention for the evening. After your commute, you’re coming home fresh.” There are many ways to make a commute more enjoyable, most of which involve taking advantage of the time away from others to do something enjoyable. Yakabuski suggests listening to favourite music or podcasts or catching up on an audiobook. She says tension can also be released with a bit of meditation, which could just be breathing to calming music or putting on a guided practice. And even for those who commute alone, it could be a good time to socialize. Yakabuski suggests calling a friend or family member to catch up and get in a good laugh. “The point is to do something that helps you to physiologically change the energy in your body and that’s going to be different for everyone,” she said. It’s easy for commuting to be stressful. But Yakabuski says for many people it’s no longer optional, so finding ways to make the most of it can help lessen any lingering resentment. To make it happen, she adds, “you have to be open to it and willing to do it. You have to want the mindset shift. It has to be something that you’re constantly working on daily.” “There’s not much you can do about (your commute),” she said. “So we might as well find the good, find the joy, and do what we can, because life’s too short to be using our commute to be unhappy going to and from work every day. I think we all want to find ways to manage our stress, wind down and be calmer. It goes a long way for the impact on the rest of our family.”