Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

10th November 2012

Every year when the clocks go back at the end of British Summer Time, millions of UK workers begin a gloomy four month period where they leave for, and return from work in the dark. Anyone who has travelled at rush hour on the Tube in the winter knows the effect this has on people’s immunity and wellbeing.

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

10th November 2012

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

10th November 2012

Lack of sunshine means a lack of vitamin D. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include bone pain and muscle weakness, cognitive impairment and asthma, and more serious risks such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Commute Smart Week, from 11- 17 Nov, founded by Work Wise UK, is set up to challenge the lot of the commuter during the winter. The week is the beginning of an annual, winter long campaign to raise the awareness of implementing smarter ways of commuting during the winter months. So if you or your partner commutes, what can you do to make it easier and to ensure you get at least some daylight? Using a few of Work Wise UK’s main aims, these are our top tips to commute smart this winter:

Flexible Working – Travel outside peak times. This could mean getting to work an hour early and therefore leaving an hour early – good if you have little people you want to spend some precious time with.

Remote & Agile Working – Work from home one or two days a week. Also urge your business to use satellite offices or drop-in centres instead of travelling to the office. These could include serviced office space or even hot spots such as coffee shops, and hotels.

Virtual Meetings – Hold a meeting by telephone, telephone/video conference or online instead of travelling to a meeting.

Green Travel with Health Benefits – Cycle or walk to work where possible. Both cycling and walking might offer you the chance to get off at a less congested station. You’ll have time outside and arrive at work feeling more energised.

Car Share – Seek out other car commuters who live near you by putting an advert on your office notice board. It’s greener, saves you money, and is a great way to meet people and wile away boring hours in traffic.

Avoid travel on a Friday evening – Statistics show that more accidents happen on a Friday, and particularly between the hours of 4pm and 6pm, than at any other time, especially in winter. Either make Friday your work at home day or get the afternoon off and start the weekend early!

Make a change! – If commuting is really wearing you down and you can’t take much more, look around for local jobs or think about setting up on your own. Local work means less travel and more time at home. Working for yourself is challenging but can mean you set your work hours around your family life.

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