Do you like your commute? Mine isn’t bad these days, but I’ve had some that I really don’t enjoy. So many miles on the car, parking, idiot drivers (because everyone on the road is the worst driver ever). And for most of my adult life I’ve had to drive many hours to get home. I’d hate to calculate how much time I spend in a car, but it’s probably more than I would want to know.
But new research is showing that we actually enjoy our commutes and driving. The ideal commute time is somewhere around 16 minutes. And we seem to benefit from the commute in 3 ways:
The destination: This is pretty obvious as we always talk about the journey vs the destination.
What we do: The part of the journey where we do stuff. More on this in a minute.
The view: You never know what you’re going to see, we have an innate need to explore.
The destination is simple enough. The drive can build excitement about the destination. Maybe it’s home for the holidays, to work for that raise that’s coming, or even discussing soccer strategy with your 5 year old who can barely kick a ball. Excitement about the destination builds as you get closer.
The view is also simple. Sometimes you take the scenic route, or the one with the curvy roads. We like to explore, and maybe we find another bar, a new restaurant, or an awesome place to sit and watch planes take off because you and your wife still feel like kids watching them take off and land.
What we do is often discounted, and according ignored altogether. And it really shouldn’t which is part of why I do enjoy driving many times. I listen to a lot of podcasts on my iPod. It gives me time to listen to them. But I also like to rock out to music, listen to NPR, and even the occasional concerto. Sometimes I have a great traveling partner and we can have great conversations. Early this fall I was driving from DC to Baltimore and back and had a great talk with a colleague.
But it’s also about what you don’t do. If you’re good (and I am most of the time), then this means no texting, emailing, interneting, or talking on the phone. Fewer distractions. In the absence of traffic, I can sometimes get into a trance-like state. I used to live about 20 minutes away from my wife before we got hitched, and when I would drive home at night on back roads I could just connect with the road. No radio, just me, the engine, and asphalt (and the occasional deer). It’s relaxing.
There are certainly many times that I hate driving. Just about any time around the DC area for instance. But many people that live in metro areas can still enjoy travel. You and your iPod, a good book, and perhaps a quick nap. You can feel all alone, even in the midst of so many people. There’s more to this journey stuff than I originally thought.
Photo: kayugee
 By The Weakonomist |
The Weakonomist is the founder of Weakonomics. Clicking the picture of the puppy will tell you more about him. If you like what you're reading consider subscribing to the blog, following him on Twitter, and checking out the related posts below. Please consider a donation if you really enjoy Weakonomics. Also keep in mind that nothing I say can be construed as financial advice. |
