WATCH: Most of us have parts of our day we wish we could change and you might think getting rid of the daily commute would be at the top of that list. But a new survey out of Toronto found that most Canadians actually don’t mind the drive. Jennifer Tryon explains.
TORONTO – A recent online survey shows 77 per cent of Canadians actually enjoy their daily commute. Most of the drivers polled said that’s because it gives them some quiet time alone while public transit users, who tend to face a more difficult commute, say they use time to rest and relax.
The poll also said that Canadian commuters are three times more likely to look forward to their commutes than to dread them.
READ MORE: Majority of Canadians in a ‘better mood’ after their commute, says poll
Previous studies, however, have not painted such a pleasant picture—most outlining the impact commuting has on one’s health and work, home and social life.
Researchers, for example, have previously found that people with long commutes suffer from disproportionate pain, stress, obesity, and dissatisfaction, while another recent study found that those who commute on average are less happy and satisfied with their lives, see less value in what they do, and are more anxious than those who work from home.
WATCH: Max Valiquette, Managing Director of Strategy of the agency explains the surprising results.
Another study from Sweden’s Umeå University found that the risk of separation and divorce is 40 per cent higher among long-distance commuters, or those who travel 45 minutes or more, than among other people.
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Who was polled?
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The online survey questioned 1,500 people in various regions of the country, with an oversampling of commuters in the Greater Toronto Area as well as samplings in Quebec proportional to the number of the province’s French and English speakers.
Among those surveyed, two thirds of Canadian commuters have a commute of 30 minutes or less while one third commutes over 30 minutes.
As their primary mode of transportation, those polled said:
- 50 per cent drive a car, truck or van
- 25 per cent use public transit (15 per cent bus or streetcar, 8 per cent subway or elevated train, 2 per cent commuter train)
- 14 per cent are automobile passengers
- The remainder walk (6 per cent) or bicycle (2 per cent)
Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, the polling industry’s professional body, said online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.
How to make your commute less miserable
If you happen to fall into the category of people who do not find joy in the daily commute, here are some ways to make your daily travels more productive and pleasant.
Read a book or listen to an audiobook, podcast or the radio
You know that novel you vowed you would read? Yeah, that was five years ago.
Take the book off your bookshelf, clean off the dust and read it when you are on the bus or train. If your commute is long, reading can help the time go by—especially if the book is more intriguing than the conversation the person who is talking next to you a bit too loudly on his or her cellphone.
If you’re driving, we recommend you don’t read but rather listen to an audiobook or podcast.
READ MORE: Tips on how not to behave on public transit
Learn to relax
If you are commuting by transit, unless it’s urgent, stop answering and reading work emails. Most matters can likely be addressed when you arrive at the office.
Stuck on a crowded bus or train? Take a moment and simply breathe in and out. Use those meditation techniques you learned in yoga and apply them off the matt.
The demands of our work and personal lives are as intense as they are different. Having some time to relax and rest, or a few quiet moments to reflect on your day and plan what you need to do next is what makes commuting so important.
Get active
If your commute tends to run on the longer end, see if you can break up your commute by taking the bus or train and then walking or cycling. Does your entire trip take 60 minutes door-to-door? If you’re able, devote at least 15 minutes of your trip to walking to or from your destination.
Rest
No one wants to be that person that closes their eyes for a few moments on the bus or train, only to realize you have missed your stop…five times, but a recent study found that daytime naps of less than 30 minutes promotes wakefulness and enhances both performance and learning ability.
Editor’s note: This tip sounds like common sense, but under no circumstance should you nap if you are operating a vehicle. If you are driving and feeling tired, find a safe place, pull over and take a power nap for 20 minutes. Then, have a walk outside before you drive again.
Catch up on news
How often do you listen to a news station or read the paper?
Reading or listening to the news can distract you from what happened at work and keeps you informed about events happening around you. Don’t feel embarrassed to read the comics or entertainment section of a paper if you aren’t a fan of reading the hard news stories.
Shop
With Christmas just a few weeks away, a recent survey found 34 per cent of Canadians will do half of their holiday shopping online and 77 per cent plan to browse online first before going to the store to make their purchase.
If you want to feel productive while on the bus or train (and you have access to WiFi) do some shopping. Just imagine how many names you will cross off your Christmas gift list before you even get to work?
Just enjoy the alone time
Sometimes it’s best to not do anything at all. Yes, driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic is a pain. Standing on a crowded streetcar or bus can be frustrating. Not having to tend to requests from your kids, spouse or manager can be nice and there is no shame in looking forward to those moments.
– With files from The Canadian Press
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