Even with most workplaces allowing employees to work from home and offering more flexible schedules, commuting times are still growing. If you commute to work every day and wish you could spend as little time doing so, you aren’t alone. Commuting is always challenging in bigger cities with more congestion or heavier traffic. So is the case in Raleigh too.
NC and the Raleigh-Durham area have been experiencing exponential growth in the last decade. With more people relocating to the region, the traffic flow has been significantly affected. The good news is that there are several ways to reduce commuting and deal with a growing city with growing traffic issues.
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A Steady Growth Streak
People from across the nation are relocating to the Raleigh-Durham area and nearby towns in search of new opportunities. Chris Lukasina, the executive director of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, says that more than one million new residents could be in central NC in the next 30 years. This has resulted in a significant rise in traffic as residents use surrounding towns like Cary, NC, as their home base and commute to Raleigh for work.
Numerous studies have proven that long commutes can negatively impact health, productivity, and happiness.
Every Minute Matters
A study conducted in 2017 by the University of the West of England found that “every extra minute of commute time reduces job satisfaction, leisure time satisfaction, and mental health.”
MIA and Absences
Another study of Australian commuters conducted in 2019 found that people with longer commutes are more likely to take unplanned absences than those with shorter commutes. It was also found that people with shorter commutes were more relaxed, enthusiastic, calm, and productive.
No matter how you take it, commutes aren’t good for your well-being. Nonetheless, sometimes you can’t really avoid long commutes. For example, you might be living further from work to care for your family, or your ideal job may not be close to your home. Fortunately, there are ways to make your long commute time feel short.
Skip Rush Hour
Here are some ways to cut down on time in traffic or being caught by rush hour times in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Take Stops
Commuting time can vary even during rush hour or when it’s especially congested for Raleigh. But, for the time being, it shouldn’t be as long as other cities (as of 2021). One efficient way to commute when it gets congested is by making stops along your way back home. It can help you minimize the stress and get more things done. For instance, you can make a pit stop to purchase groceries or stop at a Cary, NC dentist for your monthly hygienist checkup and teeth cleaning.
Find Alternatives
If you drive to work, try to find less congested driving routes so you can get from home to the office quickly. Similarly, you might also want to consider the possibility of biking or walking to work. If there are routes passable by bike or foot and would take less time, then consider trying an active commute one day.
Of course, switching from the train or bus to a bike for your entire commute might be impossible. But you can ride or walk for part of your commute. Not only will it impact how you feel about your commute time, but it is also good for your body and the environment.
Use Public Transportation
There are a lot of different ways to commute to work. You could drive, ride a bike, hail a cab, or take public transportation. Of all these methods, driving tends to be the most stressful. If you have a choice between driving and riding the train/subway or taking a bus, you will be more productive and less stressed after your commute.
Additionally, commuting turns less unpleasant when it becomes a social experience. For example, when you take a bus or a train to work, you can spend your commute time interacting with strangers or fellow travelers you meet daily. This makes for a more positive commute than driving alone to work.
If All Else Fails, Abandon Your Commute
If you have tried every possible way to make your commute work, and none of the strategies work out, then it’s time to find a new job. Perhaps you want to look for flexible or remote options. Surf through platforms like We Work Remotely, AngelList, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to find remote opportunities.
However, before you consider resigning from your current position, ask your employer if they would permit a more flexible work schedule for you—a hybrid work environment where you work some days from the office and others from home.