Downtown Philadelphia
American commuters spend an average of 50 minutes in their cars every day. That’s over 10,000 minutes every year spent in our vehicles going to and from work. For the most part, a daily commute can be difficult to avoid and even more difficult to shorten, but with an increased awareness as to how this time is spent and how it affects your day, your commute can be both enjoyable and productive.
Philadelphia has the second longest average commute times in the United States. This is probably due to the fact that, even though the city offers decent public transportation, about 6 out of 10 of the metro area’s residents commute by car.
If you’re commuting from the suburbs to the downtown area, leave plenty of time to hit accidents or backups along the way. If you work somewhere with a flexible schedule, you may want to adjust your work hours to allow you to arrive early and leave early, or arrive late and leave late. Residents of Philadelphia say that the traffic becomes especially bad if you are leaving your place of employment between 4:30 and 5:30 and note that the traffic before and after this time range isn’t bad.
In case you can’t avoid the long lines of traffic, you’ll want to plan to make the most of your ride. Most people feel that their daily commute is a waste of time. It’s just time taking up your day between activities you actually need or want to be at. However, there are plenty of ways to make your commute a pleasant and productive part of your day.
Use the mornings to warm up before going into work. Brew some coffee and put it in a mug before you head out each morning. During your downtime at work or in the evenings, make a new playlist or browse some new podcasts. Set them up on your phone and have them ready to go each time you get into your car.
Not only will this give you something to look forward to. But you will also have something to focus on beyond the stresses of everyday life. It’s a good escape and an opportunity to soothe or exercise your mind.
We all have different ideas of the perfect vehicle. That’s why, these days, there are so many automobiles to choose from. If you’re going to be spending an hour per day or more in enclosed in a vehicle. You want to be sure it’s a vehicle you enjoy riding in. From Smart Cars to Ford F150s, every commuter can find something they like that incorporates all our priorities. The Honda Civic is notorious for its reliability, functionality and its ease on your wallet. Like most compact cars, they cost much less than larger vehicles and are much easier to maneuver on a busy highway.
The Infiniti Q50 is all about spacious riding. Depending on your height, a number of passengers or amount of cargo, this could be the car for you. There’s also a benefit to having a safe car as an accident would be less detrimental with more protection around you. This is important if you’re going to be spending much of your time on the go. The Hyundai Elantra is an affordable option with a little more style and elegance than your everyday compact car. If you want to drive to work with confidence. Consider possessing one of these cars that will prove useful beyond your daily commute.
With a newfound focus on productivity or relaxation. Your commute will feel like a breeze. Use this time as a buffer between your work life and professional life and enjoy the separation between the two.