The workday doesn’t begin when you step foot through the office doors, it begins the moment you wake up in the morning and it doesn’t end until you shut the front door behind you in the evening.

The commute is, arguably, a major part of our working lives, with many of us spending up to 2 hours every day travelling to and from work.

But could you make this journey slightly more manageable by taking the train to work? Here are a few benefits you might not have considered.

Environmentally friendly - Whilst the carbon footprint of the average train isn’t exactly negligible, any form of public transportation is infinitely less pollutant than driving to and from work every day.

Happiness - A study has found that the workers who give up their cars to take the train to work are happier than those that continue to drive. Whilst you might assume it would make people more anxious or grumpy because of the crowds, it’s a more relaxed mode of transport that allows people to focus on themselves rather than focus on the road.

Entertainment - Is there a book you’ve always wanted  to read or a show you’ve always wanted to watch but you’ve never been able to find the time? The train commute is the ideal time and place to catch up on your entertainment. Even if you just want to jam your headphones in and chill out, there are far more entertainment options for train commuters than there are for drivers.

Stress - Those that travel by train are, in general, significantly less stressed than those that travel by car. This is perhaps because travel by train takes the agency out of the situation. There’s nothing you can do but sit back and enjoy the ride.

It might also be because you can use the time travelling to relax and meditate, instead of honking your horn and getting wound up when somebody overtakes you on the inside lane.

Early bird - If you have a lot of work on your plate and it feels like there are not enough hours in the day to get it done then the train can essentially become your ‘pre-office’.

On a typical morning commute, you’ll probably see dozens of office workers starting their working days on the train either on laptops  or just on their phones. This is something you simply couldn’t do on any other form of transport (besides a bus, perhaps).

Cost and time - Finally, an annual train pass is likely to cost significantly less than the petrol it will take to get you to work and back every day. This is particularly true if you live in London, where, for example, travelling from east croydon to new cross gate can take around 20 minutes by train but potentially double the amount of time in the car due to traffic.

Convenience - Travelling by train to get to work also offers convenience that you cannot enjoy when travelling by car or even by bus. Besides being within easy access to other parts of the city thanks to the Underground or public transport options, you may even be able to walk some to some of the most popular spots, which is ideal for anyone travelling for work and meeting clients at one of the city’s hotspots. 

You can even take advantage of luggage storage options so you don’t need to drag your suitcase around the city all day, especially as this can look unprofessional and make you seem underprepared. For longer stays, the luggage storage Victoria Station offers gives you a convenient solution for keeping your bags safe while you meet clients or visit the office before going to your hotel.

So, make the change today and you’ll soon start noticing the results on your mental wellbeing and your wallet!