Daily commute can affect mental health<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Eddi wakes up at 4:30 every morning to catch the
\n5:30 a.m. train to Jakarta from his house in Serpong, 30
\nkilometers west of here.<\/p>\n
He usually arrives at the Tanah Abang railway station in
\nCentral Jakarta at 7:00 a.m, and takes a bus to his office on Jl.
\nGatot Subroto in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
If he manages a seat on the train, he makes the most of it and
\nsleeps.<\/p>\n
\"If I don't sleep, I'm sleepy at work. That means I won't be
\nable to do my typing job well,\" says Eddi.<\/p>\n
Disagreeing that commuting and work proficiency is linked,
\npsychologist Dewi S. Matindas says there is no direct link
\nbetween commuting and working effectively.<\/p>\n
\"Effectiveness at work relies more on someone's character and
\nmotivation,\" she argues.<\/p>\n
\"Especially for work that doesn't require physical activity,
\nthere is no direct link,\" Dewi insists.<\/p>\n
Fatigue caused by commuting, however, can effect someone's
\nmental health. People who are over tired tend to become angry and
\ntense easily, she explains.<\/p>\n
The physical exhaustion caused by commuting can effect
\nconcentration, accuracy and meticulousness. Workers, like
\ntechnicians who install minute parts or a typists like Eddi, are
\neven more prone to exhaustion.<\/p>\n
Dewi suggests that those whose work requires concentration or
\nphysical activity have a drink and a rest for several minutes
\nafter their commute.<\/p>\n
Dewi says a busy person required to attend meetings in several
\ndifferent places in a day is likely to have problems
\nconcentrating. Spending too much time sitting in the city's
\ntraffic while attempting to meet a tight schedule heightens the
\nproblem.<\/p>\n
\"Someone rushing to speak at another meeting far from the
\noffice and is already late, and then has to face traffic jams and
\nheat, is susceptible to stress and, as a result, might not be
\nable to concentrate,\" Dewi says.<\/p>\n
Fatigue<\/p>\n
She points out that driving may also increase fatigue.<\/p>\n
\"Those who commute long distances from home to work, but take
\npublic transportation and can get a short sleep on the way, may
\nnot be too tired at work,\" she says.<\/p>\n
Zoemrotin K. Susilo, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers
\nProtection Agency, says commuting affects efficiency.<\/p>\n
\"If Jakarta's human resources cannot work effectively, whether
\nthey are civil servants or not, it is a big disadvantage to the
\nstate because they're actually the country's assets,\" Zoemrotin
\nargues, echoing the government's line.<\/p>\n
She blames the problem on flawed city planning that forces
\npeople to commute every day.<\/p>\n
\"The ideal situation would be to have housing complexes near
\nworking places. And, the housing complexes must cater to various
\nsocial classes, from the upper to lower because all kinds of
\nworkers need houses,\" she says.<\/p>\n
Housing complexes and apartments located near working centers
\nare now exclusively for the wealthy. Consequently, everyone else
\nmust live in the suburbs, far from their place of work.<\/p>\n
Since her ideal condition is far from reality, Dewi says the
\ngovernment should implement effective public transportation and
\nbuild safe parking lots at terminals.<\/p>\n
\"Build a parking lot near Depok railway station so those who
\nhave private cars can park their cars there and then go to
\nJakarta by train. It reduces traffic and the use of fuel,\" she
\nexplains. (als)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/daily-commute-can-affect-mental-health-1447893297",
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