Simple Ways to Improve Your Commute
The average 9-to-5 worker probably doesn’t associate the word “commute” with happiness. American city commutes are especially notorious for dead-stop traffic, heavy congestion and stressful attempts to race the clock and get a coffee before the long workday has even begun.
At Faraday, most of our employees commute on our eBikes and love it! So, since we’ve turned the morning into something for us to smile about, we wanted to share simple tips on changing your own lifestyle that can go a long way.
1. Make gradual, small changes
No need to sell your car tomorrow in exchange for an eBike. Although, we can’t say we wouldn’t recommend it! But, rather than try to change your lifestyle overnight, start with something simple. Walk home from the train station instead of driving. Try biking to work once a week to see if it fits into your lifestyle. Carpool with a coworker. These little changes can make a big difference in your usual grueling morning routine.
2. Ride the cool bike
If you do decide to make the switch and start biking to work, ride the cool bike. This is one of our favorite mottos at Faraday: “Buy the cool bike, because that’s the one you’re going to want to ride.” Whether it’s a great bike, a scooter, or even a new pair of walking shoes, invest in something that you really do love, even if it means splurging. Owning something you love to use every day will make each morning something to smile about.
3. Take a technology break
Take the train or bus to work? You’re likely lost in a sea of laptops, tablets and smartphones, when you probably stare at a screen for majority of the work day. Rather than getting a head start on daily emails and texts, read a good book or enjoy your coffee on the ride over, and you’ll find that you feel much more relaxed before a long day.
4. Make a commute playlist
Listening to music is a great way to start the day – and when else do you have an extra 20 minutes to listen to a new artist or album? Make a new playlist of songs, or even start a new podcast. Commuting doesn’t have to be so stressful and lifeless. Adding music to your routine will give you something to look forward to on your busy mornings.
5. Make your changes realistic, without the lame excuses
You can always find a reason not to do something. These ladies are a good example, they didn’t make any excuses about their outfits getting in the way of cycling. But let’s be real, not everyone has the appropriate route for biking or walking to work, and people can’t help how long or far their commute is. Our advice is to not make excuses and change what you actually can. If you could realistically bike to work, why not give it a shot? If you can really only drive, park further away from your office in the morning and make extra effort to walk to lunch – every step counts!
It’s not a secret that most people don’t enjoy their commutes. But small changes like these can make commuting go from stressful and boring to something you look forward to. We love hopping on our eBikes to work and our favorite lunch spots, and we hope others can see how fun commuting can be if you keep an open mind.