Scientists have found that commuting home from work is good for mental health

Scientists from Rutgers University and Wayne University (USA) conducted a study to find out why many people began to miss commuting during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is usually perceived as something routine and annoying, but, as it turned out, there is also a benefit.

In a scientific article published in Organization Psychology Review, they concluded that the journey home becomes a transitional space. At this time, a person is not fully involved in either work or household chores. This allows you to leave things behind and prepare for the rest.

Without such a buffer period, the line between work and personal life blurs, leading to stress. And the inability to distance yourself from work is a sure way to burnout.

This year, the same scientists conducted an additional study on 80 university volunteers. The scientific article is still awaiting publication, but the authors shared preliminary results.

Most of the interviewed participants noted that the way home allows them to mentally “switch modes” between work and personal time and psychologically recover after a hard day. Moreover, the longer such trips, the higher the subjects rated the disconnection from the work mode and the level of relaxation. But during stress on the road (pressure in transport, large traffic jams, etc.), the beneficial effect, on the contrary, decreased.

To maximize the benefits of travel, scientists recommend avoiding thinking about work while on the road. Instead, it's better to listen to music or a podcast, call your loved ones, or chat with other people if you're using public transportation.

At the same time, the duration of the trip is not as important as the absence of stress during it. Therefore, if possible, it is worth choosing a freer road or less busy public transport, even if it costs an extra 5-10 minutes of travel.

Those who work from home will also benefit from simulating such a transitional state. To do this, it is enough to go for a 15-minute walk before the start of the working day and at the end of it.