Long Commutes To Work Everyday? It's Probably Making You Depressed, Says Study

Imagine spending two hours every day crammed in a metro compartment, stuck in stressful and loud traffic, or battling the elements on your bike ¨C all just to get to and from work. While commutes are a fact of life for many, a recent study from South Korea, a country notorious for long commutes and high depression rates, suggests they might be doing more harm than just wasting time.

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What was the study?

In a study led by Dr Lee Dong-wook, a professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Inha University Hospital in South Korea, researchers analyzed data from over 23,000 Koreans aged 20-59 from the Fifth Korean Working Condition Survey, a nationally representative survey conducted in 2017.

The survey assessed their mental health using the WHO Well-being Index and considered factors like sex, age, education, income, region, marital status, occupation, weekly working hours, shift work, and so on.

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Their findings? Alarming.

Individuals with commutes exceeding 60 minutes were 1.16 times more likely to experience depression compared to those with shorter commutes. This association held true even after accounting for other variables, suggesting a significant link between lengthy commutes and mental well-being.

Why the Woe?

Several factors may contribute to the mental health toll of long commutes:

Stress: Traffic jams, crowded buses, and unpredictable delays can be major stressors, increasing anxiety and frustration not just to reach work but also in general.

Reduced Work-Life Balance: Long commutes eat into personal time, leading to feelings of exhaustion, resentment, and difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Isolation: Depending on the commute mode, individuals might experience social isolation because most people travel alone to work. This could further impact mental well-being.

Financial Strain: Commuting costs can add financial stress, especially for low-income workers. This can be due to the soaring costs of diesel, and petrol or just the fact that public commutes are also turning out to be expensive.

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What Can We Do?

While eliminating commutes might be a utopia, there are steps we can take:

Explore alternatives: Consider carpooling, cycling, walking, or opting for public transport. But one can understand that this may be not possible if the commute is way too long or isn't direct.

Practice stress management: Deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation can help manage commuting stress. For this, you need to fix a dedicated timing for either before work or after.

Prioritize sleep and self-care: Ensure enough sleep and engage in activities that promote well-being such as taking up a hobby or playing some sort of sport.

Talk to your employer: If nothing works out then discuss flexible work arrangements with your employer like remote work to reduce commute time. If not coming to your work isn't affecting your productivity all while keeping your well-being intact, what's the harm?

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Remember, your mental health matters. If your commute is taking a toll, explore solutions and prioritize strategies to protect your well-being. After all, a healthy mind is essential for navigating the daily grind, even one filled with traffic jams and crowded trains.

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