Walking to Work

All of us need to get to work somehow. For some it is a daily commute by car and for others, especially in large metropolises like Tokyo, it is a ride on a subway or train. If you work at home, the commute is almost nonexistent. But I have one of the best commutes in the world because I can walk to work. Several years ago, United relocated its offices to a district not far from our home. It is roughly 2 km away and takes me about 20 minutes to walk this distance.

It is an especially pleasant walk because it is generally through a couple of residential districts and the trendy Daikanyama area. At first I thought I would have to give up the walk during Tokyo's notoriously hot and humid summer months but I haven't found it all that bad. I just stick to the MSR Plan (Maximum Shade Route). And just to make sure the walking commute does not get monotonous, I have about five different routes.

Above all, I find the walk to be invigorating. Instead of sitting on my butt in a car or crowded into a subway car, I am walking and oxygen is flowing to my brain. The twenty-minute walk gives me a chance to think about the day ahead (or behind me), develop new ideas and arrive ready for work. I get some of my best ideas walking to and from work.

I know I am fortunate to be able to walk to work but it probably won't last forever. Regardless of where my next "work" is located, I intend to incorporate some walking into the commute. Perhaps it will be getting out of the subway a stop or two early. Or walking to a more distant station before catching the train.