Science Says This Is The Ideal Commute Time

Most people underestimate the impact that a long commute can have on their overall well being. Studies show that adding just 20 minutes to a round trip commute has the same negative effect as a 19% drop in salary. After all, the time you spend in a locked car is time you won’t be able to spend on valuable leisure activities like watching TV or talking to friends and family. Additionally, sitting for too long can cause strain on your muscles, and longer commutes have been shown to increase stress levels. Worst of all, extended commuting has been shown to decrease overall job satisfaction. 

What is the Average Commute Time?
Before determining the ideal commute time, let’s consider the average commute for Americans today. Commute times vary significantly by region. As you might expect, large metro areas tend to have the worst transit times. People in New York City suffer through an average of 34.7 minutes of commute, while their counterparts in Buffalo get to work in 20.3 minutes flat. Surprisingly, Las Vegas is one of the best places to drive to work (only 22.5 minutes), probably because the city is fairly isolated which cuts down on congestion.

A 1995 National Personal Transportation Survey found that the national average for commute time was roughly 20 minutes each way. A more recent study from UC Davis estimated that the average work commute was around 30 minutes, but research was limited to the San Francisco Bay Area. Regardless of where you live or how long it takes to drive where you want to go, over half of all Americans are unhappy with the length, time, or frequency of their current commute.

What is the Ideal Commute Time?

If you were to ask the average person what their ideal commute time would be, you might assume that they would respond “0 minutes and 0 seconds”. However, a recent study by UC Davis disproves this theory. When researchers asked participants what their ideal commute time would be, they discovered that most people request it to be at least 5 minutes long. When they asked participants, “what is your ideal commute time?” the results were surprising: on average, people wanted a commute time that was 16 minutes long, not zero. In order to understand why, participants were asked questions designed to reveal their attitudes towards commuting. 

Looking at People Who Like to Commute

People who agreed with statements like “I use my commute time productively” and “My commute trip is a useful transition between home and work”, while disagreeing with others like “My commute is a real hassle”, tended to prefer a long trip. They didn’t see driving to work as a stressful waste of time they would have to endure before they reached their final destination. They enjoyed the time they spent in their car and took it as an opportunity to de-stress or better themselves.

Additionally, people with personality traits that correlate with success were more likely to enjoy longer commutes. Participants identified by researchers as status seekers (they agreed with statements such as “to me, the car is a status symbol”, “a lot of the fun of having something nice is showing it off ”, and “the one who dies with the most toys wins”) or workaholics (they said “I’m pretty much a workaholic”, and “I’d like to spend more time on work”) both expressed their desire for longer commute times. The UC Davis researchers couldn’t isolate why, but believed that it could have something to do with workers altering their preferences to fit the preferences of their employers.

Commuting in an Ideal World

If the request for more commute time sounds unlikely to you, don’t worry. The UC Davis study determined that those who prefer a long commute were a small but sizable minority. When they asked the question, “What is your ideal commute time?” to study participants, only 8.9% wanted a commute time of 30 minutes, and another 2.1% wanted a commute to work that took even longer. 

Essentially, there is a balance. Of course people don’t want their commute to be too long, but on the other hand, they don’t want it to be too short either. The scientifically determined ideal commute time of 16 minutes fits this rule. Hypothetically, it allows workers enough space to transition from work without depriving them of too much personal time. Though it sounds appealing, the idealized 16-minute commute is still 4-to 14-minutes shorter than the national average. So how can you cope with a commute that feels too long?

How to Improve Your Commute

How can you improve your time in transit? Though most associate “commuting” with driving or taking public transit, these are not the only options for travel. You can walk, drive, skateboard, or even rollerblade to your office or home. These modes of transportation add variety to your day, and by incorporating physical activity into your daily routine you can eliminate the need to visit a gym. Additionally, a study from Sweden shows that slow commutes like walking or biking actually increase satisfaction compared to driving or public transit. 

Many believe that they can’t make the switch because their workplace is too far away. However, research has shown that Americans routinely overestimate the amount of time it would take them to bike or walk to work. The health benefits of physical activity are enormous, and it’s worth it to attempt your route before concluding that it won’t be possible. 

Another concern is the logistics of transporting laptops or papers. Remember that you can easily carry your work materials in a commuter backpack. Fashionable backpacks are becoming more popular as workers realize that style and comfort don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Many newer “adult” backpacks have minimalist styles and use high quality materials like leather. They’re built to withstand the jostling of a 30 minute bike ride while still appearing chic and fashionable.

Finding the Silver Lining

Even if you can’t bike or walk to work, you can increase your overall happiness by spending the time you have inside your car more productively. Audiobooks are a great way to gain knowledge and become more competitive in your field. You might also listen to the news or talk radio so that you don’t feel cheated out of leisure time. Music on your car’s radio can also improve your mood and boost your spirit.

If you want to save money while reducing stress, consider traveling with neighbors or coworkers. Carpooling is social, and chatting with another person can help distract you from any anger or distress that you might feel about the situation you are stuck in. You will also be free to use your phone to play games, watch movies, or make calls. It’s much less stressful to be sitting in the backseat than driving in heavy traffic.

A “commute” doesn’t need to involve suffering. By embracing the time that you have as an opportunity to improve your physical or mental health (or at least squeeze in some leisure), you can find the upside to even the longest transit.

A computer programmer with a two-hour round trip commute told the Washington Post, “As strange as it sounds, I’d rather have an hour-plus commute than a five-minute commute. In the morning, it gives me a chance to work through what I’m going to do for the day. And it’s my decompression time.”

What’s the Difference: Everything You Need to Know About Waterproofing

When you’re shopping for a new bag, the terms “waterproof”, “water repellent”, and “water resistant” might appear interchangeable at first glance. However, each term has a distinctly different meaning. Waterproof bags can be completed submerged in a pool of liquid without suffering any leakage. A water resistant backpack, however, is probably better suited to a light drizzle. Before you make a decision about what type of waterproofing is right for you, it’s essential to understand the terminology and the tradeoffs for each option.

Water Resistant

A water resistant bag is better than a non-resistant bag at protecting your valuables, but it’s the least effective of all three waterproofing options. However, the upside to having laxer standards is that bag manufacturers are able to use a wider range of materials and construction methods, usually resulting in a more fashionable backpack.

Most bags classified as “Water Resistant” have the following features:

• Tightly woven fabric. Looser fabric weaves have microscopic holes that allow water to seep in. A tighter weave is meant to eliminate these holes and seal out liquid.

• A standard zipper. The downside to a standard zipper is that there are gaps in the teeth, leaving the strip of fabric where the zipper is located vulnerable to water.

• A special coating meant to repel water, though usually not as effectively as the coating on a water repellent or waterproof bag. Some water may be absorbed by the material.

Water Repellent

Water repellent bags are the next step up for water protection coverage. While a water resistant bag can work well in a light drizzle, a water repellent bag can succeed in a heavy storm. Many of the materials in a water repellent bag are completely waterproof, but due to the way that the bag is constructed, it cannot be officially classified as “waterproof”. Most people can meet their everyday waterproofing needs with a water repellent backpack.

Most bags classified as “Water Repellent” feature the following:

• Tightly woven fabric that is similar to, or stronger than, the weave on a water resistant bag. It is usually more effective at eliminating any microscopic holes.

• A standard zipper, which is still vulnerable to water due to small openings between grooves.

• A stronger waterproof coating, often a thin film. This coating is a step up from what you would find on a water resistant bag and will often cause water to literally roll right off the bag.

Waterproof

A waterproof bag is considered the gold standard when it comes to protecting your items from water. It is the most thorough classification, and is often reserved for bags that can withstand extreme downpours and complete underwater submersion. Many of these bags are made by companies that specialize in outdoor wear, like Patagonia or The North Face. Fashion and style options in a waterproof backpack may be limited, as they are often quite utilitarian. This is why they are often reserved for camping.

Most bags classified as “Water Proof” have the following features:

• A waterproof zipper. This is a primary feature that sets the waterproof bag apart from the others. The ridges of the waterproof zipper are not visible on the bag, and may take extra effort to locate or maneuver. This special zipper is necessary to eliminate any small gaps or holes. The waterproof zipper often looks like an open seam, and may be differently colored.

• A roll top closure. This allows manufacturers to get rid of zippers, which are a liability even if they are waterproof due to the holes they can create. This type of closure is often useful in hiking or backpacking gear.

• A heavy waterproof coating that ensures that any water rolls of your bag and is never absorbed. These bags are completely hydrophobic.

Trade-offs to Waterproofing

If you’re like most people, you want to a maximum level of coverage. After all, why risk getting your valuables wet if you can buy a bag guaranteed to keep them dry? However, most bags are not waterproof due to the intensive labor required to meet waterproofing standards. The challenge lies in construction - any seams between fabric can create opportunities for water to seep in. To prevent this possibility, manufacturers must use a special process called “ultrasonic welding”. A trained welder uses an ultrasonic welding machine to join fabric together without creating any seams. The end result is a bag that looks glued together, though the bond is much stronger. 

Is Waterproofing Worth It?

A good way to think about waterproof backpacks is this analogy about being gluten free: If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you don’t need to worry about cross contamination from a few wheat grains. As long as your plate is 99% free of gluten, you are fine. If you have severe celiac disease, however, 99% is not good enough. You can have a severe reaction from a few wheat-based crumbs, and are often forced to make special arrangements or even bring food from home. Preparing your meal takes more effort. For a small minority of the population who have this disease, it is worth it. For the majority, it is not.

The tradeoffs that customers and manufacturers must make to justify waterproofing are, in many cases, not worth it. Ultrasonic welding is expensive for manufacturers, which means you will need to pay a higher price for a waterproof bag. Fewer stitches and zippers mean the bags can look sparse or utilitarian. The restrictions put in place to eliminate every possible drop of water means that your design options are limited. If you only intend to use your bag in a drizzle or even a heavy downpour, a totally waterproof backpack is probably not justified.

Alternatives to Full Waterproofing

If you intend to use your backpack for everyday use, there are other means of keeping out rain. If you have special papers or electronics that are essential for you to keep dry, you might consider using a dry bag. These pouches can fit inside your backpack and hold items like cell phones, passports, keys, wallets, and other small objects that are especially vulnerable to water damage. If you intend to visit an extremely wet area or you just want to be careful in a downpour, these bags can offer you an extra layer of protection.

Waterproof Zippers

One of the biggest differences when it comes to a waterproof vs water resistant or repellant backpack is the zipper. Resistant and repellent backpacks use a non-waterproof zipper, leaving gaps that can allow small amounts of water to leach in. Though you may not need the full coverage that a waterproof zipper provides, you can consider the extra protection a bonus. Some bags offer a mixture of zipper types, which can cut down on unnecessary costs while still preserving style and offering protection to your most valuable items. Consider ISM’s backpack, which features a waterproof zipper for just the laptop compartment. A regular zipper on the outside creates a stylish appearance and is easy to use, while the waterproof laptop zipper offers maximum protection where it can do the most good.

Takeaways

Though a stylish, affordable, light, and fully waterproof backpack is ideal, it’s rare to encounter and unnecessary to seek. Water repellent backpacks with special zippers and materials can offer you nearly identical coverage in a heavy downpour, and they often come at a lower price point with the added bonus of being more fashionable. You don’t have to sacrifice lightweight materials like leather and nylon. You can buy a backpack with gold-plated zippers, leather tassels, and metallic embellishments. A water repellent backpack, like ISM’s, is sturdy enough to completely protect your valuables from the rain.