Benefits of the Fake Commute
The Fake Commute
For some the commute to and from work was the most dreaded part of the day. After a long day you just wanted to get home. Some days you faced extra challenges from traffic, construction, and rail delays/issues. Do you ever recall yourself saying I wish I didn’t have to travel so much/so long...now only to wish you could travel…anywhere?!
Other people enjoyed their daily commute as it provided a much-needed time to decompress, reflect, and have some separation between work and home. It is a forced transition period that creates the space to help redefine ourselves from “career person” to “family/friend person.”
Now the commute is just a few short steps from where we sleep to where we work. And to make it more difficult we may end up staring at the workstation all the time because it is on the kitchen table!
Not only is the transition that was once marked by the daily commute gone, but some people are now transitioning roles several times in a day, from worker, parent, partner, friend, etc. We are wearing all the hats, all the time, and that is exhausting and mentally taxing.
One way to meet this new work-at-home challenge is to create a “fake commute.” In the CNN article, “The Rise of the Fake Commute and Why it’s Good for your Mental Health” author, Kristen Rogers writes that mimicking our routine from the “before time” can help define the line between work and home which in turn helps to boost our mental health. In the article, Kristen Shockley, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Georgia states, “people who segment have better work-life balances.”
Creating that time of separation enables oneself to process our responsibilities better, improve our mood and become motivated and more aware.
It is merely the time and activity that replaces our former commute and creates the split between work and home.
It can be as simple as a walk or run or bike ride. One person in the article stated that daily walks “gave me a reason to get out of bed at the same time each morning and set me up for a more productive, active day. Walking outside has a massive positive impact on my mental health.”
Perhaps you also need to add some boundaries during the activity, like no talking about COVID-19!
A great idea came from a colleague who takes a walk each day to enjoy the flowers, the gardens, and the birds. She takes pictures of these gems and shares with friends to spread the joy.
Another colleague makes it a habit to drive to the local coffee shop drive-through to pick up his morning coffee. Although he has a coffee maker at home, he finds that leaving home, even for a short drive, creates a separation between home and work and prepares him for the day ahead.
It depends on what you really appreciate about the notion of transition. Determine what kind of time you might need and plan on that says Lynn Bufka, Senior Director of Practice Transformation at the American Psychological Association. The transition could be spending time alone or simply changing your clothes. Perhaps you just need to pack up and tuck away your computer and your paperwork so it’s out of sight when you are not working.
Of course, the routines that involve exercise not only improve mental health but have the benefit of improving physical health, lowering cholesterol, and help us to sleep better. Physical activity can also boost immunity and respiratory health, which are especially pertinent right now!
Do you have a “fake commute”? What works for you? How do you create that healthy separation between work and home in the remote working environment?
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