Working from home Brits admit they MISS the morning commute to get away from their family, new study finds
Two thirds of adults who work from home admit they miss the regular commute.
A poll of 1,000 people who used to drive to their workplace before 2020 found they miss listening to the radio, having time to themselves and a proper routine.
Among the top 20 things drivers yearn for are singing out loud to songs, switching off from home and family life and taking in the views.
Almost a fifth (18 per cent) miss decompressing on their way home, as 29 per cent claim it allowed them to ‘switch off’ from work.
A third agreed the commute helped them break up their day, and switch from work to home modes.
The research was commissioned by DS Automobiles and found 22 per cent admitted they didn’t think they’d miss journeying to work until they stopped doing it.
Jules Tilstone, managing director in the UK for the premium French car brand said: “We expect all drivers have moaned about having to get up early to get to work on time, or about being stuck in traffic.
“But actually as the findings show – people are missing that time in their car and the positive aspects which came with commuting.
“It seems to have had a real impact on routine, wellbeing and balance between work and home.
“Whether it’s something as simple as listening to a podcast during the drive, the commute gave people the time to do that and switch off from other thoughts, but at home it’s harder to find that routine.”
The research also found 75 per cent agreed driving to and from work helped with their general work-life balance.
But nowadays, 48 per cent claim they start work earlier than before and 46 per cent do more overtime.
More than three quarters (77 per cent) feel commuting made them ensure they logged off from work on time.
But while 33 per cent try to get out of the house before starting their job each day to break it up, 32 per cent use that time to sleep in and 29 per cent scroll through social media.
The average commute was found to last 38 minutes and 25 per cent now spend that time with their family and household, whereas 21 per cent go to the gym.
The social aspect of commuting has also been lost, as 63 per cent of those polled via OnePoll used to share the car with others, including colleagues (31 per cent) and their other half (29 per cent).
As a result, 91 per cent of them miss the social element.
Friday was found to be the day people miss commuting most (34 per cent), with Monday being the least (12 per cent).
Jules Tilstone of DS Automobiles UK added: “We make cars for the large number of drivers choose a vehicle they know they’ll enjoy spending time in, so they’re also missing out on having a reason to listen to music in the car and take in views from the comfort of their driving seat.”
TOP 20 THINGS DRIVERS MISS ABOUT COMMUTING TO WORK:
- Having time to myself
- Listening to the radio
- Listening to the news
- Listening to my own playlist
- Listening to podcasts
- Singing out loud to songs
- It being part of my routine
- Decompress from work on my way home
- Switching off from home/family life
- Planning the day ahead in my head
- Switching off from work life
- Taking in the views
- Buying breakfast en route
- People watching
- Listening to audiobooks
- Going somewhere else en route
- Buying a drive-thru coffee en route
- Discovering new places/areas
- Eating breakfast en route
- Watching the rain hit the windscreen