The early morning commute can be taxing, to put it politely. Studies have shown that long-distance commuters experience a range of disorders at much higher rates than those with shorter trips to work. Headaches, digestive issues, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression are pretty much just the tip of the iceberg. Clearly, long commutes are detrimental to our health. That’s why we’re taking a look at the advantages of living close to your business. Unsurprisingly, they far outweigh their negatives.
Save Money on Transport
Aside from the obvious health benefits of a reduced commute, the financial perks are evident. By living closer to your business, you’ll save tons of money on transport every year. The average UK commuter will spend around £135,000 on transport to work by retirement.
Walking or cycling to work will enable you to cut back on your travel costs, and put the money towards your business, investments, savings, or other worthwhile financial pursuits.
Increased Productivity at Work
As a business owner, you know that maintaining a high level of productivity can be challenging. Burnout is very real and many factors contribute to it. A long and stressful commute certainly doesn’t help things. Arriving at work early and getting a head start on your day will certainly improve your productivity.
Since you’re less stressed from your travel, you’ll have the clarity of mind and energy to perform as you need to. Owning a business is challenging enough, you don’t need the added hassle of a nightmare commute.
Better Work-Life Balance
The more time you spend travelling to work, the less you have to spend on your friends, family, and yourself. The importance of work-life balance truly cannot be emphasised enough. If your business is close to your home (say 5-10 minutes away), you’ll have more opportunity to spend time on the things, and people, that you love.
Avoiding long commutes enables you to strike a balance between being a business owner and exploring your passions. It’s so easy to let life slip by the wayside when you’re so focused on your venture, so reducing contributing factors such as a long commute can really help with balance.
Buying a home close to your place of work can be daunting, but mortgage brokers like Trussle make it easier as they search for the best deals on the market and streamline the process. Many UK residents are now eligible for a mortgage with only a 5% deposit, thanks to a reinvigorated government programme.
Living Close to Your Business is Key
It’s clear that living close to your place of work can make a huge difference in your quality of life. Striking a successful work-life balance is difficult enough, but as a business owner it’s even more challenging. Long commutes contribute to increased risk of high blood pressure, depression, and even some joint conditions.
Living 5-10 minutes from your business enables you to focus on things that you love. Whether that’s spending time with friends and family, completing a passion project, or working on yourself, it’s clear that a shorter commute is beneficial in just about every way.
