Cycling to work can stop you feeling stressed
- Canadian researchers assessed the first 45 minutes of work among 123 workers
- All of the study participants commuted by either bicycle, car or public transport
- This first portion of the day sets the tone for how productive an employee will be
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline
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If you’re feeling stressed, don’t drive to work. Bike instead.
Cycling to your office each morning won’t just make you healthier, it will stop you from getting stressed later in the day.
Those who commute by bike feel under less pressure in the first 45 minutes of their shift, a new study suggests.
And this boosts their performance in the office, allowing them to be productive for the rest of the day.
Canadian researchers assessed the first 45 minutes in terms of mood and stress for 123 workers who commuted by either bicycle, car or public transport.
This first portion of the day sets the tone for how productive an employee will be during the rest of their shift, Concordia University scientists said.
Those who commute by bike feel under less pressure in the first 45 minutes of their shift, a new Canadian study suggests
Lead author Dr Stéphane Brutus said: ‘Recent research has shown that early morning stress and mood are strong predictors of their effect later in the day.
‘They can shape how subsequent events are perceived, interpreted and acted upon for the rest of the day.’
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How was the study carried out?
All the volunteers in the latest study on the benefits of cycling worked at Autodesk, an IT company based in Montreal.
Mood, often dependent on someone’s personality, and stress levels, which are easily influenced by external factors, were monitored.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BIKING TO WORK
Cycling to work slashes the risk of cancer, heart problems or dying early by almost half, British research showed in April.
Adults who commute by bike are 45 per cent less likely to get cancer and 46 per cent less susceptible to heart disease.
Their risk of dying prematurely from any cause is 41 per cent lower – despite the dangers of cycling on roads.
The Glasgow University study of a quarter of a million adults showed that biking even short distances was far more beneficial than walking or using public transport.
What did they find?
They found stress levels for the first 45 minutes after arriving at the office were ‘significantly’ lower for the cyclists than the others.
Despite its positive effects on stress, experts were unable to find any link between biking and having a better mood in the morning.
As well as the new benefits, cycling has the added advantages of being good for the environment and good for physical fitness.
Safe cycle lanes
But cities and towns across the world need to make it easier and safer for workers to get on their bikes, Dr Brutus added.
Only about 7 per cent of British adults regularly cycle to work and just 4 per cent do it every day.
Many are put off by heavy traffic, the weather or not being able to shower at the office.
The new findings were published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management.
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