"Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic." 

- Dan Rather, CBS News Reporter and Anchor 1964 - 2006

Mujeres y Allies,

There is one thing many of us do each work day that is the source of major stress.  It usually takes up more time than we like and it can have health consequences if not handled well. What is it?  Our daily commute! The average total daily commute time in the US today is about 60 minutes, but in some congested cities--that rises to 90 minutes. Studies suggest the longer your daily commute, the more likely you will be overweight, have neck or back pain or experience stress or difficulty concentrating.  And, if you happen to be a “taxi mom” who drops off kids at school or takes meals over to elder parents---Dios mio-- it’s that much more stressful! Even if you have a relatively easy commute, a recent Harvard Business Review article makes a great case to develop a strategy for the very first thing we do during the work day, a more healthy step to set the tone for the day.

Uno, dos, y tres. Let’s do this con ganas.

One of the ways to destress just about any situation is to shift your mindset about what’s going to happen and how you will approach it.  Developing a routine that you enjoy while driving is a mindshift. If you drive to work, you may want to listen to a book or podcast so that you associate driving with learning or being entertained around themes you personally enjoy.  If you take mass transit, use that time to plan the day by reviewing your calendar and your “to do list.” It means you’ll know exactly what has to get addressed quickly. A routine or ritual gives you that sense of control and makes those 5 hours each week an opportunity for growth.

Many employers are now offering carpooling services or vanpools to get employees from neighborhoods into the office and others encourage staff to use a carpooling app to share a ride. If you can share the responsibility of driving, it means that you may cut your driving time in half and again you can use that time to destress or find a common podcast to listen to and talk about what you’re hearing.  And yes, being sociable is actually healthy and good for you. Avoid using the carpool time to drive in silence or--no me digas-- get on your phone and catch up with your BFF while the other person slogs the traffic!  Even on mass transit, just saying hello to the person sitting next to you on your train or bus ride into work can make a commute less isolating and you never know-- it could be a great connection!

If you are fortunate to have a short distance to travel to work each day, consider making part of the commute your exercise for the day.  Walking or biking to work or to your train ride into town means you are getting some exercise each day. The recommended walking steps for heart health and weight management is 10,000 steps a day. Most Americans just walk 3 - 4,000 steps a day, contributing to the rise in obesity over the last decade with now one third of all Americans obese. Get moving, get healthy!

That’s it. #3LVCareerHacks on making your commute a better part of your day.  

Got a comment for us? Give us a shout at @SavvyLatinaInfo @LatinaVIDA360 or on our Facebook Group. We’d love to hear from you!  

SPECIAL NOTE:  If you are in Tempe Arizona, join us April 18th for our next ¡Rise to the Top!

Live Your VIDA with Intention! Register here.

--Abrazos,

Your LV Familia!

P. S. Remember, here are the other LatinaVIDA resources for you:

• Evernote Notebook of Curated Work-Life Resources, Readings and Tips

• Join our Private Facebook Group

• LatinaVIDA360 Podcast Latina Leaders in Conversation and NEW Career Power Hacks

• Our #Slack Community to Share Experiences with LatinaVIDA Circle Guide

• Past #3LVCareerHacks Newsletters (please share with friends and family)

• Latina Cubicle Confidential: A Personal Blog from our Co-Founders

RESOURCES