Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Here’s how your commute can help you

John Merrill-Steskal, MD
Physician
May 2, 2017
Share
Tweet
Share

This is an open letter to everyone everywhere, especially people who live in small communities such as mine:

If you drive to work, you are missing out. If someone offered you an opportunity to improve your health, enhance your happiness and creativity, boost your self-esteem and even make you richer, what would you say? Many might think it would be an offer that was too good to be true — a scam; what’s the catch? There is no catch; I want to share how commuting to work on foot or by bicycle can do all these things. It can be a bit addicting, but this addiction is a good thing.

First the obvious: a self-propelled commute is exercise, and regular exercise has tremendous benefits for health. Physicians typically recommend exercise in the range of 30 minutes five days per week because research supports the notion that this amount of exercise reduces the chance of developing chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, as well as many cancers, for example). For many people who live in small communities, work is within the range of a 30-minute walk or bicycle ride.

Another clear benefit of walking or biking to work has to do with money; everything costs much less than driving. Compare a new pair of shoes or a bicycle with the cost of maintaining a car and paying for fuel, and there is no contest. Cars as a means of getting to and from work in America have become an expensive habit, and sometimes a good way to break a habit is to realize how expensive it is.

The hidden gems with a non-motorized commute, however, have to do with creativity, self-esteem and happiness. While exercise in itself has been shown to boost these qualities, I believe exercising while going to and from work increases these traits much more.

Whether it is preparing for a busy day, solving a problem, or finding solutions to conflicts, the time on a bike or walking allows the brain to wander, to consider out-of-the-box solutions, to be creative. Personally, some of my most creative thoughts occur before or after work while I am pedaling away. It is the exercise combined with the time of day combined with being disconnected from computers and smart phones. Just as some of the best vacations are when one is in a remote location and “unplugged,” some of the best parts of the day are when one is alone, in that transition between work and home. It may sound crazy, but it is a mini mind-and-body vacation — a time to figure things out.

But, one might say, “Exercise is hard, I’m tired after work, it’s windy and no matter which direction I am going, it’s up hill!” There is no argument from me — I agree entirely. However, in these sentiments lies exactly the reward, and why I have come to enjoy my commute more and more over time. There have been many times when I have walked out the clinic door, tired from a busy day, and thought about getting a ride home. And there have been times, half way home, when I have wondered where my strength had gone. By mustering the strength, though, I almost always get on my bike, and I always get home just fine. I have gradually realized what this has done for me. My body and brain have become stronger and stronger, and I have faith in my ability to succeed. Self-esteem, inner confidence, resilience, whatever you want to call it — I’ve got more of it now, and my commute has helped me get it.

Meanwhile, I have come realize over time that getting to work on bike or foot has made me a happier person. We all want to be happy, and it is well known through research that exercise improves mood and decreases the chances of becoming depressed. This mood-enhancing effect of exercise occurs right after an exercise session, as well as over the long term with regular exercise. In other words, biking or walking to work is a handy tool to improve the chances of having a good day at work. And what is really remarkable is if one adds up all those good days at work, the result is an improved chance of being happy at work in general. Everyone spends a lot of time — most of our adult life, actually — at work, why not improve the odds that we will be happy during that time, that we will like our job? I think this is in a sense an important foundation of job satisfaction.

It takes longer to get to work in the morning, and there are errands and tasks to complete that require a car … the list goes on and on. Changing or creating new habits is difficult, and it is common at first to see numerous seemingly insurmountable barriers. In reality though, there are creative solutions to almost every obstacle, and meanwhile, it is rewarding in itself to plan for and achieve new healthy behaviors. And of course it can be done; I witness patients changing behaviors every day in the clinic. I never cease to be amazed at the strength and determination of the human spirit.

My advice is to treat yourself and leave your car at home. Whether your commute is by bike or by foot, I guarantee (how often do doctors guarantee anything?) that with time you will be healthier, happier, richer, more creative and have greater confidence in yourself.

John Merrill-Steskal is a family physician who blogs at Triple Espresso MD.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

In their obsession with numbers, doctors sometimes forget who patients are

May 2, 2017 Kevin 0
…
Next

What is the right way to deliver bad news?

May 2, 2017 Kevin 7
…

ADVERTISEMENT

Tagged as: Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
In their obsession with numbers, doctors sometimes forget who patients are
Next Post >
What is the right way to deliver bad news?

ADVERTISEMENT

More by John Merrill-Steskal, MD

  • Science is the right tool to improve health

    John Merrill-Steskal, MD
  • It is critical for physicians to use their long-held trust wisely

    John Merrill-Steskal, MD
  • The health of the natural world and humans are intimately intertwined

    John Merrill-Steskal, MD

Related Posts

  • Want to create a review course? Here’s how this physician did it.

    Mary Preisman, MD
  • Here’s how a glucometer turned this doctor against Medicaid for all

    Seiji Yamada, MD, MPH
  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Here’s why doctors must know prescription costs

    Mark Kelley, MD
  • Telemedicine should be easy. Here’s why it’s not.

    Dennis Wichern
  • Here’s how to win the opioid war

    Dr. Leonard A. Sowah

More in Physician

  • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

    Jessie Mahoney, MD
  • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

    Kayvan Haddadan, MD
  • Why more doctors are leaving clinical practice and how it helps health care

    Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA
  • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • Why starting with why can transform your medical practice

    Neil Baum, MD
  • Life’s detours may be blessings in disguise

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • The future of clinical care: AI’s role in easing physician workload

      Michael Wakeman | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • The future of clinical care: AI’s role in easing physician workload

      Michael Wakeman | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...