Germany commutes, and you?
At the end of July 2017, the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research announced that around 18.4 million people in Germany commute to work every day. You are referred to as a commuter if you have to travel to another community for your job. This number is constantly increasing. And there are few people who find it difficult to imagine that.
BY CAR OR TRAIN TO WORK?
Studies show that people who drive to work every day are more at risk to illness. You go to the doctor more often, especially if you have physical complaints. But driving also has a psychological impact. For most people, driving is just stressful, especially during rush hour. If you live in a big city, the journey that would have taken you ten minutes on foot suddenly takes 15 minutes by car and in the meantime you are probably still upset about the incompetence of the other drivers. Stress is one of the highest risk factors for our health. If one compares this with commuting by bus or train, it is found that health is not related to this factor. If you take the train to work, you may be stressed because you got up too late or the train is particularly crowded again today. Nevertheless, many stress factors decrease. If you take public transport, you have the opportunity to pass on the responsibility to others. You are only responsible for getting to the station on time. The rest is no longer your fault. You can also increase your daily exercise by walking at least once every day to the train station, from there to work and the same way back home. Fresh air is always a plus. No matter what the weather. But what can you do so that the train journey doesn't feel like a waste of time because you actually haven't achieved anything?
We know it from before. You're sitting on the school bus, in the first lesson you have math with the worst teacher in the school, and yesterday there was simply no time for homework. Luckily, you still have time on the bus to take care of it yourself (or find someone to write it off for you). Why don't we use this time anymore? There are many things that can be done perfectly on the train and in the train station. In this way, a constantly repeating process becomes time for routines that make your everyday life easier.
Breakfast on the train?
Yes! Breakfast on the train. If you find it terribly difficult to get out of bed every morning, this is the easiest way to save time. You have to travel by train anyway, and eat too, so why not combine it? It's best to prepare your breakfast in the evening so that all you have to do the next day is quickly pour a coffee into your stylish to-go cup. Our Siwa backpack model offers space for everything you need at work and for your picnic on the train. Eating is important, take time for it. Read a book. We know that sounds old-fashioned. Who reads real books these days? In fact, reading books has increasingly given way to other things in recent years. Especially since televisions have existed. But the book is also evolving and there are still quite a few intelligent people writing quite intelligent books. So if you don't feel like reading your aunt Lisbeth's cheesy novel and you've already read Harry Potter twelve times, then why not try something informative? Alice Hasters published a book about racism in September 2019 that is now on everyone's lips, but you haven't read it yet? It is time. Or try Stephen Covey's '7 Habits of Highly Effective People' . There is always space for a book or your Kindle in our work room or, for example, our weekender Willow . This also makes the four-hour train ride to Munich to your loved ones bearable.
WORK ON THE GO
Use the train ride to find out about news on your way to work. All you need is your smartphone and, ideally, your headphones so that you don't annoy those around you unnecessarily. It's practical if you have a bag that stores all your belongings in small, extra compartments, like our Everett business briefcase with a useful outside pocket.
Organize yourself and your everyday life. There's nothing better than using the annoying bus or train ride to clean out your photo gallery or prepare meetings for the coming week. This means that the commute becomes used working time. Are you the classic type who likes to take handwritten notes? Then our new Nevada briefcase is perfect for you to always have your appointment calendar, notepad and pen at hand.
The Nevada briefcase
COMMUTING, COMMUTING, WORKING HOURS AND JOURNEY?
Conclusion: If you really don't feel like cycling at all, you're better off and, above all, healthier by taking the train than by car. We also now know how useful the “wasted” time on the bus or train can be used.
If that's still too much for you, you should just try a short nap. Sleeping is important and everyone can sleep.