Is Your Commute Costing You Happiness?
PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) -- How much would you pay to ditch your commute?
According to new research from National Geographic fellow and author, Dan Buettner, when it comes to happiness, cutting an hour long commute out of your life is equivalent to making an extra $40,000.
Frisco resident Michael Butler said he use to commute more than an hour to and from work when his office was in downtown Dallas.
"It was horrific," he said. "I didn't like it at all."
This is why Butler doesn't do it any more. He traded his hour plus commute for a five minute drive.
He said the change has been nearly priceless.
"It makes for a happy person," he explained.
One reason many North Texas companies have cited moving its headquarters to cities like Plano and Frisco is the proximity to where employees and perspective employees live.
On Tuesday, Toyota will officially break ground on its new headquarters located in West Plano -- across the highway from Frisco.
Kym Yancey, CEO and Co-Founder of the magazine Live Happy said it's a smart move by corporations to factor in employees' commutes when choosing a location.
Yancey said research shows a clear correlation between the misery of your commute and divorce rates, obesity, back and neck problems, and level of happiness.
Those factors have a significant impact on an employee's productivity.
But Yancey said its not all about just how long you're stuck in your car. He said it's about your mindset and what you do with your time while commuting.
"You are going to do nothing but drive your happiness down by thinking about all the things that are wrong with your commute," Yancey said. "Think about things that will bring you happiness and think about things that will triggers those things for you and get away from 'ain't this awful.'"
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