How much time do we spend commuting every year?

AUSTRALIANS are spending more and more time every day on the work commute. How much does it add up to every year?

How much time do we spend commuting every year?

IF YOU spent this morning sitting in traffic or standing on the train with someone’s elbow in your back, then you probably won’t be surprised to find out that Australians’ work commutes have increased by 24 hours since 2012.

The average Australian now spends 29 minutes one-way on their commutes — that’s almost an hour a day. It’s also an increase of 3 minutes each way since two years ago. Roughly extrapolated, your 29 minute commute adds to up 10 full days a year. 10 days you would rather have spent doing almost anything else.

With capital city property prices on the rise, more and more people have been driven further out from the CBD.

Research from workplace provider company Regus found Sydneysiders spend the most time commuting, 31.7 minutes each way. And more than a quarter of Sydneysiders would probably love to spend only 31.7 minutes on their commute — they actually spend over 45 minutes each way.

Cars stuck in traffic at an intersection

Workers in Perth spend 30 minutes each way on average, followed by Melburnians at 29.5 minutes while Brisbanites were close behind at 27.2 minutes.

If you want a shorter work commute, consider moving to Adelaide or Canberra where the averages are 21.8 minutes and 17.4 minutes respectively. In fact, almost half of workers in Adelaide spend less than 15 minutes getting to work.

So how can you make your commute slightly more bearable?

According to the research, 64 per cent of survey respondents said they keep themselves busy during their commute by making phone calls.

If you’re driving, you may be forgiven (maybe) for making calls, but speaking on the phone on public transport is like the eighth deadly sin, so for the sake of everyone around you (who are also suffering through a hideous commute), perhaps just don’t. It can wait until you get off the train/bus/tram — find a book to read instead.

Man Disturbing Passengers On Bus Journey With Phone Call

Listening to music was nominated by 58 per cent of respondents as a way to distract themselves from the tedium of the commute. But just remember to keep the volume at a reasonable level so the entire train carriage can’t hear you playing Whitney Houston on repeat through your headphones.

Catching up on the day’s news — perhaps on this very website — is another popular (and quiet) option with 53 per cent of respondents. As is updating and visiting personal social media sites (35 per cent).

What are your pet peeves about the work commute? Sound off below in the comments.