In September 2006, a psychology magazine called Monitor on Psychology included an article on a recent study showing that the increasingly longer commutes people take to get to work from the suburbs are not just irritating, they have a health impact as well. The longer the commute, the more it is associated with increased stress hormones, poorer performance on even simple activities like proof-reading, and perceived stress levels.
And these three make sense from a brain point of view -- stress increases stress hormones as your body tries to cope. Stress hormones tend to have a negative impact on memory -- as in, you start losing it -- and on your ability to pay attention. Not being able to perform as well is, well, stressful. So you can see the whole cycle just getting and worse, right?
So what can you do?
I thought you'd never ask!
Here's my suggestion:
1) Review my article on the Heart of Neurofeedback.
2) Ask me for the free ebook from HeartMath that describes how to do it or, if you're in Toronto, contact me to sign up for one of my free Heart Coherence introductory group sessions.
3) Practice Heart Coherence at least part of the time during your commute. It can be done driving, walking, riding subways, trains, or bicycles. To aim to stay heart-coherent the whole time is, of course, even better. I personally practice Heart Coherence while I'm reading at night (among other times, of course ;-)), so don't feel it has to be "instead" of other activities you use to make the commute more pleasurable.
Practicing Heart Coherence will:
- reduce your stress hormone levels and re-balance your nervous system
- put you in a better, more positive, emotional place for when you get to work or back home
- improve your brain functioning -- and not just for proof-reading ;-)
You can't lose! Commuting -- What a great opportunity for a good time! :-)- put you in a better, more positive, emotional place for when you get to work or back home
- improve your brain functioning -- and not just for proof-reading ;-)
