The Rise of the Fake Commute

Commuting. A word that used to evoke negative feelings is now strangely conjuring nostalgia in much of the workforce. People are missing their commutes and as we encroach on almost a year of working from home, Fake Commuting is becoming more popular.

What is a “Fake Commute”? Fake Commuting is an evolving trend where people are replacing their pre-Covid commuting routine with other daily activities such as walking, biking, or, meditating. Workers are missing the general routine of a commute – the opportunity to prepare for the day ahead and transition from work back to their home life at the end of the day.

While working from home has it’s benefits, the blurred nature of when work begins and ends is impacting the mental health of many workers. Creating a fake commute allows people to get refreshed for the day and re-ground themselves.

Here are some ideas that can help you create your own fake commute

1. Go for a drive. Perhaps what you miss most about your commute was the opportunity to call your Mom or listen to your favorite podcast. If this is the case, try mapping out a 15-minute scenic drive around your town. Plan to head to your car at the same times each day to signal the start and end of your work day. If you used to take public transit and miss the socialization, you could always schedule a standing Uber to drive you around each morning and/or evening. As crazy as that might sound, we actually hear from a lot of drivers who are happy to simply go for a drive with a passenger - this arrangement happens more often than you might think!
   
   
2. Exercise! This is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Set aside your commuting time each day to go for a walk or do your favorite Yoga flow. Exercising is a great way to recharge the mind and body. Pro-Tip – get a neighbor to go for a standing morning/evening walk with you everyday to get in some socialization!
   
   
3. Meditation. Try to start and end your work day with a 10-to-15-minute guided meditation. Having a moment to yourself to signal the change from home to work and back again will do wonders for your mental health, productivity, and patience. There are many apps out there that offer guided meditations or you could also simply turn to YouTube or just enjoy the peace and quiet without any guide.

Have you implemented a fake commute? If so, what is your new routine?