Commuting to work leads to burnout

A new study has found that commuting length, distance, and means can have an impact on our stress levels. Get the mix of those ingredients wrong too often and we risk burnout, says Annie Barreck from the University of Montreal. “A correlation exists between commuting stress factors and the likelihood of suffering from burnout. But their importance varies according to the individual, the conditions in which their trips take place, and the place where the individual works.”

Passengers more at risk: First of all, the destination matters: People commuting towards rural or suburban areas feel less stressed than those approaching the city and the bigger the city the worse the stress. When it comes to car travel, the health of passengers is harmed more than the health of drivers, because the drivers, at least, have a sense of control.

The disadvantage of heading towards an office in the country is the lack of reliable public transport. “Public transit implies bus or train connections, and as rural regions are less well served, the risk of uncontrollable delays is increased,” explains Barreck.

Cyclists suffer too: Cycling in the suburbs is more anxiety-inducing than cycling in the city, because there are fewer safety features. It’s only out in the quiet country lanes where cyclists and walkers can truly find some peace. Barreck’s work was focused around the rural and urban regions of Quebec in Canada and charted methods of commuting against emotional burnout, cynicism and productivity levels. The sample of 1,942 people surveyed were aged between 17 and 69 and worked for 63 different
organisations.

It’s not all bad: Commuting doesn’t necessarily have to lead to burnout, however. Barreck says commutes of less than 20 minutes are significantly less likely to cause long-term problems. “The effects of the duration of a commute on a person’s mental health vary according to the type of transport used and the profile of the area where the person works,” she says.

“Managing employee commuting flexibly would increase employee efficiency and moreover enable organisations to attract or retain workers.”
So if you’re feeling exhausted on your way to office, see if you can cut down the length of time you spend on the journey or if your boss will let you work different hours to beat the traffic.