Is Your Commute Hurting Your Health?

Has your commute gotten longer?

​The average American’s commute has gotten almost 20 percent longer since 1980. While the typical commute used to be around 21 minutes, it has now been extended to 26 minutes.That extra five minutes may not seem like a lot, but if your commute is 26 minutes long, that means that you’re spending an average of nine days out of the year commuting. But that average commute time doesn’t apply to everyone. Approximately a quarter of all Americans have a 15-minute commute, but on the flipside, nearly 17 percent of Americans have a commute that takes 45 minutes or longer. So how does all of this time spent sitting in our cars affect us?

The Vicious Cycle That is Road Rage

​Have you ever noticed how your personality seems to change when you get behind the wheel? Even the most mild-mannered individual can find themselves cursing, sighing and flipping the bird after a few minutes in the car, and unfortunately, road rage is contagious. Whenever someone cuts you off or drives recklessly around you, it’s almost impossible to just brush it off and let it go. Rage breeds rages, and before you know it, you may find that your anger leads to you cutting someone else off and driving recklessly yourself. All of that rage can’t be good for us, and it certainly doesn’t make us any safer on the road. 

The Stress of Being Behind the Wheel

​There’s no better time to reflect on everything that is stressing you out in life than when you’re stuck in traffic. In addition to focusing on every source of stress in your life, commuting in itself is stressful. Think about it: your fate lies totally in the hands of the traffic gods, and you have absolutely no control over it. It’s no wonder why people with longer commutes tend to have higher levels of chronic stress and anxiety. The stress of being behind the wheel also has adverse health effects, including higher cholesterol, higher blood sugar and higher blood pressure. 

The Monotony of a Long Commute

​In addition to road rage and stress, sitting in the car for an extended period of time is downright boring. And when we’re bored, we look for ways to entertain ourselves, but some forms of entertainment can be dangerous. Driving while distracted is a huge problem, and it is incredibly dangerous. Bored drivers with long commutes are much more likely to check their email or peruse Facebook while they’re driving, and that can put their lives at risk. 

Find a cure for your commute-blues with Skyplus Limousines.

​There’s no doubt about it, a long commute can be bad for your health, but luckily, Skyplus Limousines has the answer. With our professional car service in Foxborough, you’ll have a safe, stress-free ride anywhere you want to go. And while it might not make sense to take advantage of our limousine service every time you need to commute to work, our drivers are always ready to handle your transportation needs for everything from corporate events to special nights out. Visit us online today to learn more.