Realistically speaking, we spend majority of our life time in transit. Almost everyone is a commuter.

Every day, millions of people globally commute to work and though we do it as often as we can imagine, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have grown fond of it.

Our commutes to work are growing longer and longer as we know it and we’re nowhere near to actually liking it. In the US alone, over 25 million employees spend more than 90 minutes each day going to and from their jobs, and approximately 600,000 of what the U.S. Census Bureau calls as “mega-commuters” travel 90 minutes each way. And in the UK, the average round-trip travel takes 24 minutes. To make things worse, professionals from most of the world’s major cities such as Milan and Manila suffer through awful traffic for over an hour.

Instead of warming up more to the activity like how one would usually become after long exposure to it, our distaste for it grows and grows.

These brewing feelings of loathe – though seemingly insubstantial – can result to serious implications in the long run. According to a 2014 British government survey, workers with lengthy travel time felt more anxious and less satisfied with their lives compared to those with shorter commutes. In addition to this, they are more prone to feeling indifferent about their daily activities. Other research suggest that they become even more exhausted and less productive at work. Moreover, they tend to have lower job satisfaction than those who live near their workplaces.

But experts believe that there’s still hope. We can still improve our individual experiences by trying out certain strategies that can make our travels happier.

The duration of your trip to the office can be utilized to condition yourself to get into your professional zone.

Majority of us play a specific role within the walls of our home. Some of us are a parent or a partner – maybe even both and the moment we step into our workplaces, we suit up and get down to business. After 8 hours, we’d revert back to our personal lives and would sometimes even shift back to our work self before going to bed.

Each of the aforementioned alteration requires a shift of mindset. Without it, worries and other concerns that come from one role will carry over into the next one and could possibly pull us down.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles suggest incorporating small routines such as checking the news or looking through at one’s calendar for the day on their way to work. Studies says that those who maintained little regimens felt more happy about excited about their day, had more satisfaction in their jobs and were less stressed out compared to those who do not have one. In addition to this, these rituals were known to produce all sorts of benefits. It aids in lowering anxiety before engaging in vital performance tasks, increases enjoyment in activities at hand and could possibly aid us in recovering faster from failure or loss.

One of the many frustrating aspects of being a commuter is the scarce amount of control we have over traffic jams, delayed buses or crowded train stations. But amidst this, there is one thing that we have power over; the manner of spending our time during the trip.

Harvard Business Review (HBR) writer Jon M. Jachimowicz used the term Pockets of Freedom in an article he co-wrote discussing how people can reclaim their commute to describe our capability of utilizing the time we spend standing in line or inside cars to learn a new skill or improve our passions.

The phrase originated from his great aunt, Adela, who strived to have one dedicated hour each night for creative activity amidst the dreary Nazi occupation. We can make them bearable by looking at it as an opportunity to recharge.

If all else fails, then maybe its high time to minimize our existing travel time and become less of a commuter.

A large number of us are torn between choosing to live near work or to live in a bigger home. Members of the workforce with large families would of course opt for the latter. But as living expenses in the cities become more and more expensive, it has become harder for them to live close to their jobs.

Moving houses isn’t the only way to fix long travels to work, a much simpler option is promoting remote working.

The idea of working from home or having versatile work hours are becoming more common. The Census said that during the year 2014, 4.4 percent of the workforce now primarily works at home – nearly doubling the population since 1980.

Though admittedly, not all types of jobs can be susceptive to the nature of telecommuting but there remains to be a significant number of work that can be done within the parameters of a home office or cubicle.

Companies are understandably particular about implementing remote working for a number of reasons, but specific organizations are now giving it a try because fortunately, these progressive enterprises are already aware of the discomforts of being a daily commuter. Some have conducted experiments by allowing specific teams have flexible work hours. Their respective managements would have them join coworking spaces strategically located in cities that are not too cumbersome for the majority. These shared offices give teams their own desks or private offices without tying them down to a specific shift – they can go to work any time they please.

Though originally targeted towards freelancers and other solo entrepreneurs, providers are keeping their doors open for teams that want to give teleworking a try.

Census data shows that our commutes will continue to grow longer for the years to come; hence, they advise business owners to take into consideration the concrete ill-effects it has on their workforce.

Twenty years ago, Hitachi executive Tsugio Makimoto envisioned a revolution. One wherein technology would change humankind’s way of working. No more commuting or dull cubicles. The high speed wireless networks of the future will help millions of employees turn their dream of following their wanderlust into reality.

His vision later appeared in a book he wrote together with David Manners during the year of 1997 entitled Digtial Nomad but the public turned a blind eye to it. Years later, the concept resurfaces in a 2007 best-selling book The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. American entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss gave the world a sneak peek of globetrotting as they do their jobs over the internet.

Neither of them ever foresaw the impact modern technology could bring to our daily lives nor did they ever predict the rise of a new complex industry that will change what work is for us

An entire industry was born out of the booming sharing-economy. Originating from the remote workers of today’s labor force, digital nomads are this generation’s lucky freelancers who have made the world their office.

It has distinguished itself from traditional telecommuters by combining remote working and travelling – a dream that most Millenial’s have. It’s the ideal lifestyle for those who want to carry on with their usual business while on vacation.

In the US, 43% of employed Americans have experienced remote working last year at least some of the time according to the Gallup post published last February 2017. In addition to this, both the length of time working remotely and that of employees working full time continues to expand every year from 39% during the year 2012.

Its burgeoning industry had made easier for everyone to work remotely from the streets of Greece down to the nearby café in your area. Since its rise to fame, shared offices that allow professionals to rent work areas for temporary use made its rounds around the world. The most famous one being coworking spaces with over 13,800 providers globally.

Digital nomads can now easily transfer from one country to another without sacrificing their efficiency and productivity.

Though often seen as a tourist destination, the Philippines have become one of the most sought after countries by international enterprises and is now considered as a digital nomad’s paradise.

Its booming economy allowed them to take over Mumbai’s position as the second top ranking BPO destination in the world. The local workforce composed of literate young professionals and their competitive labor rates cater to the numerous countries who plan on establishing their offshore sites. Several universities and schools encourage developing skills needed to be part of a competitive global labor force.

Besides the general considerations in terms of doing business in the Philippines, their lifestyle and culture also play an important role that favors the country as a digital nomad paradise.

Foreigners live comfortably in the nooks and crannies of the archipelago due to the hospitable nature of Filipinos, be it in terms of business or leisure. Locals are quick to give out a hand to those in need. No need to worry about getting lost in translation, most of them are good English speakers.

Wanderers would enjoy the Philippine shores and its breathtaking landscapes. Several world-class beaches can even be found 4 hours away from the bustling Metro Manila. Quick getaways are possible because of the several convenient ways to get around.

And when it’s time to start grinding, remote workers won’t have to worry about where to stay. The country’s capital alone is home to several coworking spaces that allows you to avail a membership or simply a dedicated desk that you can call your own for a few months. Most providers offer flexible rates and can accommodate a solo member and a whole team of professionals.

The Philippines is most certainly a country where digital nomads continuously thrive.

The competition among coworking spaces is tight and searching for the perfect workspace can be a daunting task.

Office space providers come up with the most unique ways to ‘wow’ its members from an airy loft down to outdoor bars – impeccable interior design have become a detrimental factor in winning over prospect members.

And though admittedly, an individual’s working environment plays a significant role in their productivity, it’s also important to make sure that they have all the technical tools needed in order to guarantee the efficiency of one’s work day. More than anything else, your workplace should be able to help you accomplish more tasks rather than just inspiring you with its aesthetic.

In order to know whether a shared office carries both the style and substance needed for a happier work life, there are specific factors to remember in choosing your shared office.

Each space around the world carry their own identity, with a specific set of values or culture that speaks to a segmented audience. Certain workplaces are focused only on one specific industry and serve to their distinct needs. Hence, it’s only apt to pick one that matches your personality and can also serve the needs of your business.

Sancar Ayalp, managing partner of NYC-based The Farm Coworking, said in an article from New Worker that they have a clear persona for their community. This is so that they can tailor everything to address the needs of their members.

And as an average person spends 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime, it’s only apt to pick one that matches your personality. Look for providers that can serve the needs of your business and could possibly help it grow. Check its location, demographic and allot a time to visit it to get a feel of the community and the vibe of the space in general.

Coworking spaces pride themselves in encouraging collaboration amongst its members. A great deal of them will use their strong sense of community as a way to market membership but a qualitative measurement that they really do take it seriously is by searching for company hosted events. Your chosen provider should have a balanced number of informative events, such as workshops or talks and community-centered ones like after-work drinks, game nights and even exercise classes, both in their upcoming and past events calendar. These type of occasions can spearhead collaborations among members from different industries and create relationships from unlikely friends.

As mentioned earlier, it’s detrimental to evaluate how you can use the space to the benefit of your business – and we’re not just discussing free coffee or printing. Certain partnerships with companies related to your field can be of big help. Moreover, there’s also opportunities of expanding your professional network and even chances of mentorship. Though these factors may vary, it’s helpful to remember these indicators to ensure that the resources you have will increase as you stay.

And more than anything else, make sure to check out the facilities that they offer. Check the layout of their office and see whether the seating arrangement would work to your liking. Ensure that they have everything you need in order to have a productive day because weighing the practicality and aesthetics of a shared office allows you to pick the best workplace for you. Eager to see what a coworking space with both style and substance looks like and book a tour with us today!