Underground can be stressful …
Would you ever imagine that taking a trip on the London underground could be more stressful than going into battle as a fighter pilot or confronting a charging crowd as a policeman in full riot gear?
Well its true, in fact its ‘extremely stressful’…
A recent survey part-funded by technology firm Hewlett Packard, reveals 80% of passengers feel stressed whilst travelling on the tube and while a fighter pilot or a riot policeman has a choice to turn around; tube passengers are stuck inside a giant metal worm racing through the ground with no choice but to grin and bear the journey whether they want to or not.
On average a commuter would spend 3 hours a day travelling to and from work. That’s 15 hours a week, which is 750 hours per year, which comes to 31.25 days a year…that means one can spend a whole month of their year doing nothing but commuting.
Studies have found that people enter a near zombie state of mind in which they forget whole periods of the journey.
The stress is just too much and while trapped in inescapable confinement, the mind literally switches off to combat itself against the stress of the journey and the anger it creates.
How often do you subconsciously ‘psyche’ yourself up before entering its subterranean world? Mentally preparing yourself for the discomfort of an overcrowded journey is enough to send anyone’s blood pressure soaring.
The London underground is a dangerous place indeed. With 100-150 suicide deaths a year its easy to see why.
As the blood pressure soars, the link between stress and health becomes all too evident. Its only prudent to take steps to alleviate the stress of commuting on the tube as best as you can.
Here are 10 handy tips to help you.
- The most easiest solution is to read a book whilst the miles speed by.
- Or even better yet, sort it out with your boss to work from home.
- Travelling outside of the rush hour is always a good idea.
- Walking part of the journey is the best way to wash the stress of the journey out the system, before turning up for work revitalised and ready to go.
- Pre-pay with an Oyster card and avoid the rush hour push of 500 commuters against your back.
- Take a nap.
- Be chivalrous. You’ll be amazed how good it feels being the one to get up for the pregnant lady.
- Listen to music.
- Or be really brave and strike up a conversation with the person next to you.
- Ultimately you can stop using the tube all together and use another mode of transport. Is it time to blow of the cobwebs and get on your bike?
Travelling on the tube doesn’t have to be the dreaded chore which so many of us fear and despise. Make the journey your friend and take control.
Today is the day to beat the stress away.
