April is Stress Awareness Month

Stress affects us both mentally and physically and can have serious long-term impacts if not addressed. This month, stay stress-free and celebrate Stress Awareness Month by trying these strategies to improve your commute and overall workday!

Take control of your commute: Are you tired of sitting in traffic each morning and evening? Frustrated by unexpected Metro delays? Your commute could be stressing you out! This can impact your mood during the day, and ultimately your productivity in the office. Consider tools and resources such as Trip Planner, Car-Free Near Me, CommuterPage.com and even Twitter. These can help you find a different way to get to work, such as a commuter bus route near your home you never knew about. These programs can also keep you informed of any delays or issues that might come up so you are prepared and can adjust your commute. Next time the Red Line is delayed, instead of stressing out over being late to work, hop on a bus or even Capital Bikeshare and head to your destination!

Get outside during the day: It seems like everyone is getting busier and busier at work these days, which can increase stress levels and have adverse effects on employee morale and productivity. Make an effort to go for a short walk during the day, or even just sit outside for a brief period of time. Give yourself a break from sitting in front of the computer screen and get out of the office during lunch or a mid-afternoon break. This can drastically improve your mood and reenergize your workday. Make it an office-wide initiative – gather a group of coworkers and come out to National Walk at Lunch Day on April 30th!

Make your commute an active one: It’s well known that physical activity is a great way to reduce stress, so why not exercise on your way to and from work? As the weather gets nicer, this is a great time to try biking or incorporating walking into your commute. By getting exercise on your way to the office, you can arrive refreshed and energized to start the day. Remember, National Bike Month is coming up in May – now is the time to dust off your bike and get a tune up so you’re ready to start riding!

The commute is a big stressor for a lot of us – don’t let it get in the way of your mood, productivity, and overall wellbeing. Try the strategies above and start seeing benefits to your mental and physical health!