Commuter Chronicles

PLEASE PASS ON A COPY OF COMMUTER CHRONICLES
Commuter Chronicles April 2006 \| Volume 1 \| Issue 7
In this issue: • From the Desk of Dr. M... • Something to Think About • Feature Article • Pass it On... • Health Tips • Cost Cutters • Dr. M Recommends • What's Happening	FROM THE DESK OF DR. M... Have you noticed that the “media”, television news and printed news, are taking notice of the commuter? A Newsweek writer was interviewed on television, reporting on the increasing length of commutes. Internet news named the person who commuted the longest - over 300 miles each day. A little article in the paper reports that Malaysia (yes, Malaysia in Southeast Asia, south of Thailand and The Philippines http://www.geographia.com/malaysia/) has such serious traffic that they have set up massage stations along congested routes to lower drivers’ stress levels. It does seem that everywhere you look these days, commuting and its negative effects are being discussed. But we know there are positives that come with the commute. More and better housing for the dollar and better schools are the number one advantages to moving out of the city. But with the cost of gas ever rising and the number of other commuters traveling in every possible mode of transportation, the stress of the commute must be addressed and modified. Most of you were introduced to Commuter-Assist by the 'Five Steps to a Better Commute' (sign up on the Commuter-Assist homepage click here). If you read it-great!. If you’re using the techniques-better! Do go back and review what’s in those articles. They work, but only if you use them. Remember the aspirin on the shelf does absolutely nothing for the headache. You have to use it. In this issue of Commuter Chronicles, we address the high cost of gas and give some sites that should be helpful. More and more people are taking public transportation because of the cost. Let’s hope our elected officials will address the issue of good public transportation that’s needed. In the health section, we take a look at the long neglected worker, the boss. With greater responsibility comes more stress and greater incident of physical problems. A linch-pin to the success of the company and every worker in it, the boss needs TLC and understanding. Let’s dedicate this issue to the boss. Read Pass It On and the Teleconference update to see how your service is doing and who will be our invited guest on Commuters in the Know LIVE! on Thursday, May 4th. Also check out the recommendations we have for you. Something to Think About might be good for a giggle. We at Commuter-Assist hope all our Jewish and Christian friends had wonderful holidays last week. We now look forward to the warming of the weather as Spring comes into its fullness. Remember to pass on a copy of the newsletter, either by the link (http://www.commuter-assist.com/newsletter.htm) or by forwarding it. Commuter-Assist.com and its services are for commuters and all who love them, work with them, and employ them. Be well! Dr. M.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT April is Poetry Month. We listed some interesting sites to visit, and perhaps to contribute to, in our last issue. I hope you got to them. Below, we have a short poem about commuters by E. B. White and some humorous quotes that, I think, most of us can relate to. I think God's going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding. ~Steven Wright Natives who beat drums to drive off evil spirits are objects of scorn to smart Americans who blow horns to break up traffic jams. ~Mary Ellen Kelly Few great men could pass Personnel. ~Paul Goodman, Growing Up Absurd: Problems of Youth in the Organized Society, 1956 Speed kills colour... the gyroscope, when turning at full speed, shows up gray. ~Paul Morand Commuter - one who spends his life In riding to and from his wife; A man who shaves and takes a train, And then rides back to shave again. ~E.B. White, "The Commuter," Poems and Sketches, 1982
Commuter-Assist.com and its services are for commuters and all who love them, work with them, and employ them. PASS IT ON... Last month we started our Pass It On campaign and we asked you to help us get Commuter-Assist.com known to those we serve. Today we report that you are hearing our request. Our Alexa ranking (remember the lower the ranking the more popular the site) has moved down from 273,120 on 8 March to 240,282 as of today, 10 April, a drop of almost 33,000 in one month’s time. We thank you. We are very aware that nothing can happen without you . All are work is for naught without you.	FEATURE ARTICLE Ten Tips for the Overextended Commuter Do you know a commuter who isn’t overextended because of the commute he or she must take to reach the office? Well then, you know someone who is using the tips outlined below. However they got there, any commuter who is at ease with their commute and not overextended because of the time and expense of the commute, has found the secrets to making the commute work for them. According to federal statistics, workers are making longer commutes than in the past. More people are traveling greater distances to work. There are more cars on the road and public transportation is very crowded. Most people are resigned to the inconvenience and stress of long commutes. Others are willing to tackle the commute more aggressively. And that is the first key to saving some of the time, money and energy that a commute takes away. Below are listed ten tips that may save you time, money and energy. Even using one or two of the tips will make a change in what you pay to live a distance from your work. 1. Make a plan. Think about what in the commute is taking your time, money and energy and do something about it. Commuting is expensive and might even be a major expense in your budget. This expense might lead to energy- sapping stress as you worry about the output of so much money. Taking steps to adjust this output will limit your energy and money concerns. How can this be done? You might share a ride with someone. There are web sites that will help you with this, just Google in “share a ride.” Or you might take public transportation at least part of the time. 2. Assess your needs regularly. You might have gotten into a rut that no longer works for you. The greatest assessment is around the job itself. Does it still meet your desires and requirements? Should you be thinking of moving on to another company or type of position? The other assessment centers around your home location. Does it still serve you to be living where you do and commuting? Often, after a time, people find that moving so far from their work is no longer what they want. It is something to assess from time to time. 3. Be prepared. Be ready to walk out the door without searching for car keys, airline tickets, money. Some like to prepare the night before, others over the weekend. This is an especially useful tip if you have children to drop off at daycare. Getting the older ones into the habit of preparing for themselves will lessen your time and energy output even more. 4. Commuter’s needs change seasonally. Just the awareness and acceptance of this can have a positive impact on the energy expended on commuting. Some commuters who normally fly to other cities or states for work, use their cars or the train during the winter months then switch to planes once the danger of ice and snow is over. 5. Regeneration, daily, weekly and annually, is important in the life of the commuter. Long distance commuting takes its toll on the body and soul just as it does on the wallet, the car and the time of the commuter. Taking an hour at the end of the day to stretch, do light exercise and defuse by using calming techniques, meditation and relaxation are two, will help regenerate the energy and spirit. This is a good way to be sure stress stays within manageable boundaries. 6. Make healthy choices about what you do during the day. Packing lunches some of the time puts you in control of what you eat and, especially, portion size. Make the choice to walk up the stairs or walk to a distant bus stop. The payoff for these small choices will show in less stress, more energy and even more money. 7. Use tools to make you more efficient. Scheduling is one that could be used more effectively. Try scheduling all your activities, professional and personal, on one schedule. Also try estimating how long a particular activity will take and block that time out. 8. Family and social time is necessary to a happy life. It is not optional. If necessary, pencil it into your schedule – and stick to your schedule. 9. Corporations need to understand that the employee who has the commute under control is a better, more productive worker than the one who comes in harried from the stress of the commute. Those corporations will make provisions for their commuting employees because they value their work. Think about talking to your employee about this. If you are the employer, think how effective this could be in increasing productivity. 10. Commuting is a choice that was made, sometimes very long ago. That choice should be reconsidered periodically and whatever steps need to be taken must, for the health of the commuter and all who are close to him or her, family, friends, employer. Use these tips and see what happens to the negative effects of the commute. My challenge to you is to make the commute into an activity that enhances your work and personal life.
COST CUTTERS It will take more work these days to cut the cost of anything from gas to food to travel, whether it is commuting to work or going on vacation. The cost of gas, upwards of $3.00 or more, will affect almost everything else we buy - food, clothing, transportation, home fuel, construction, garbage disposal, and so on. Most companies are putting surcharges on their fees in order to cover the cost of rising gas prices. Already we have seen many driver-commuters switch to public transportation at least some, if not all, of the time. With fuel prices at an all time high, more will be switching. For those still using their cars to get to and from work, web sites such as www.gasbuddy.com and www.gaspricewatch.com are good first stops to check on where you might save some money. They use volunteer “spotters” to report gas prices. You insert your area code and out pops gas stations that have the lowest prices in your areas. You might have to act quickly to gas up, prices in some states are allowed to change more than one time each day, and they will. A few weeks ago, I passed the gas station and noticed the price had gone up. Coming back fifteen minutes later, it went up again. Passing it a third time that day saw a price hike for the third time. This will not be unusual for the foreseeable future. For those of you who fly as part of your work or are planning a vacation to a far off destination, Carol Pucci of the Seattle Times, gives useful money-saving hints and web sites that make booking flights online easier. Did you know booking too far in advance might cost you money? It seems that most airlines reduce fares six to eight weeks prior to a flight. Here is more useful information: save $20 to $50 by using electronic rather than paper tickets, telephone reservations generally cost $5 to $10 more than online reservations, Northwest Airlines, and maybe others, charge $15 extra for exit and aisle seats, children traveling alone may be charged $30 to $60 extra each way, overweight baggage charges are $25 to $50 (check with your airline to see how much a bag can weigh), curbside check-in is $2 to $3 per bag (I’m happy to pay this cost to save the time, energy and stress of checking in at the counter), gas prices have affected airline ticket cost by 6% to 40% higher. Ms. Pucci also advises checking several sites, including the airline’s, for availability and cost since she notices many discrepancies. Some good sites are www.kayak.com and www.sidestep.com.
	HEALTH TIPS There is much concern and many advocates for the worker, but what about the boss? Do we know how he or she is doing? Not only does the boss commute to work, often a long distance, but he must be concerned about the employees’ commutes as well. Do they come in tired? Are they ready to work and be productive? Do they feel valued? How is their health and their health insurance? Frequently the boss is thought of as someone who drains the last bit of energy out of the worker, all for the almighty dollar. But this is seldom the truth and only a part of the picture. Because “the buck stops” at the feet of the boss, how much the company brings in is a primary responsibility. How productive the workers are is also the boss’ responsibility. Here’s a short list of other responsibilities he or she has: following government regulations, effective communication within and outside the organization, leading and protecting the worker, objectively handling conflict that arises, being separate from the workers but also a team player at times, growing the company. The boss, being visible, is always open to criticism from employees, clients, peers and family. If she doesn’t learn how to handle the stress and strain that accompanies the position, everyone will pay the price. The boss will be less effective and have physical and emotional problems to show for it. The workers will not have the leader they need to set the pace, clients will feel underserved no matter what they receive, peers will be less inclined to partner and family will feel neglected as time is taken away from them. Loneliness at the top is not just a colorful way of describing how the boss is separate from his employees. It truly is lonely and isolating. There are few to share concerns and problems with, for fear of being seen as weak and ineffective. Say too much and someone else may have the advantage. For health reasons, and because a successful life calls for it, ways to handle the challenges of being a boss are needed. The balanced life that has space for relaxation and play as well as work, friendships as well as clients and the spiritual as well as the fiscal is the life that functions on a higher plane. Making a commitment to having time for these things in your life is itself energizing. Cutting out the unnecessary leaves space for what you want to have in your life. A little of what you want, even if it’s only every so often, can change your attitude and impact the very way you live. Having dinner with family or friends twice a week is a loud and clear message to all, including yourself, that the life the boss leads is a valuable and full one, not to be sacrificed on the altar of work. A boss I work with, we’ll call him Mr. K, discovered the value of a life filled with people and projects outside work after he recovered from a heart problem. He had been the typical boss, first to arrive in the morning, last to leave late at night. His wife was on the verge of leaving him and his son was estranged from him, thinking Mr. P didn’t love him. Change was forced onto him because of his illness, but he says he is grateful for what he has been given. The changes gave him the opportunity to become part of his family again and to learn many things about himself he thinks he might never have discovered. Spiritual people like to say there is positive in adversity, if only we look for it. I like to say that there are courageous acts in all of us waiting for their time.
DR. M RECOMMENDS There are some books that come out and immediately are headed for the “Classic’s” shelf. GOOD TO GREAT by Jim Collins is such a book. You can also get it in audio CD or cassette. Collins states that companies, schools, we, don’t become great because they, we, are good and are satisfied with that. There is much effort needed to move to the next level, which is greatness. Whether you run a company, a small business, a practice, a family or yourself, this is a book that needs to be read. It will make you question yourself and, hopefully, energize you to conquer the next level. Good to Great Jim Collins	WHAT'S HAPPENING TELECONFERENCE Commuters in the Know LIVE! On Thursday, May 4th, 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific), we will have Andrea Scott Brown, MBA, as guest. Andrea works with women who are mothers and helps them to carve out some time in the day just for themselves. We think that commuting mothers and women who care for their children while their spouses are away at work, sometimes days at a time, will find what Andrea has to say very valuable. Andrea is a mother herself and has road tested all her methods. I also use her relaxation when work and motherhood seem difficult to meld. The teleconference is a service of Commuter-Assist.com, free to commuters and all who love them, work with them, and employ them. Sign up here (http://www.Commuter-Assist.com/teleconference.htm) and the telephone number will be emailed to you. Everyone, men included, will find this teleconference useful. Join us! CONQUER THE COMMUTE: TOOLS FOR THE ROAD AND LIFE Hopefully, next month the e-book Conquer the Commute: Tools for the Road and Life will be completed and available. It is in its final polishing and you can order it at a 30% discount by clicking on this link Click here and reserve your copy of this new e-book today. SURVEY Commuter-Assist.com began in January 2006. In that time, it has been ranked by Google 4 out of 10, and by Alexa in the 200,00s. It has begun a bi-monthly newsletter and a monthly teleconference series. It has over 10,000 citations to its articles on the Web. Commuter-Assist aims to make a difference in the lives of commuters and all who love them, work with them, and employ them. You can help us do this by taking the survey that asks your opinion and needs. This link will take you to the page, http://www.commuter-assist.com/survey.htm. We want to know how you want the site and the services to work for you. You can also help by passing on a copy of the newsletter or a link to the site. Finally, come support us in our new venture, Commuters in the Know LIVE!, the first Thursday of each month. You’ll learn a lot and have a little fun, too. Please support the sites we link to. They are all part of the services to commuters. Maybe some day we can all get together and make a difference in the public transportation and the roads we use.
Dr. Mastria is founder of Commuter-Assist.com, which publishes e-books, CDs and cassettes to help commuters get the most out of their commute and life in general. Dr. Mastria speaks, offers workshops, and consults to businesses. She also provides life, wellness, and executive and business coaching to groups and individuals. To contact Dr. Mastria email info@Commuter-Assist.com or call 570-839-6394. All content Copyright © 2006, Dr. Marie A. Mastria, CLC, PCC / Commuter-Assist.com. All rights reserved. You may copy or send it to family or friends who may benefit from it so long as the format and credits are intact. You have permission to publish this article electronically, free of charge, as long as the by-lines are included and links are activated and maintained. A courtesy copy of your publication or link to website would be appreciated.
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