Nurosym’s report highlights how Irish employees may be struggling to let the stress of the workday go, once the day is done.
Medical device company Nurosym has published data identifying a potential “hidden stress window” for Irish employees, who may find that their daily commute is adding extra strain onto their workday, frequently.
The organisation collected information from 1,000 Ireland-based employees across the month of July and what stood out was that worsening congestion in Dublin is leading to employees losing a significant number of hours each year in the daily commute. Findings suggest that drivers are estimated to have lost an average of 95 hours to traffic during 2025.
More than two-thirds (68pc) of those who participated in the research found that they arrive home drained at least once during the week and 56pc explained that it takes at least an hour or longer for them to finally relax. Some find they have to check back into work, with 82pc of contributors stating that they look at work messages after hours.
“Commuting is usually quantified as time lost, but from a physiological standpoint, it is better understood as one contributor to a sustained allostatic load,” explained Dr Elisabetta Burchi, the head of research at Nurosym.
She added: “Urban environments impose near-continuous demand on the autonomic nervous system; noise, crowding, artificial light and the vigilance required by unpredictable conditions all recruit sympathetic activity.
“When a congested journey follows a cognitively demanding day, these inputs summate rather than resolve. The result is that sympathetic tone can remain elevated after arrival home, with the parasympathetic recovery that would normally follow a stressor delayed or incomplete.”
No place like home
Nurosym’s report found that the problem is most pronounced in the Dublin area, where nearly three-quarters (73pc) of employees arrive home feeling stressed or mentally drained at least once a week. This was followed by the south-west at 71pc, the border and midland regions at 68pc and the west at 67pc.
The Dublin-based workforce was also found to be the cohort most likely to be digitally connected after hours, with 87pc admitting that they scan their emails and messages outside of regular working hours. More than 40pc of those who contributed said this is a daily activity.
One in five Dublin respondents said their commute makes it more difficult to unwind, compared with one in six nationally.
Looking more closely at gender-based figures, participating men were found to be more likely to remain connected to their jobs, with 85pc checking work messages outside their normal hours, compared with 78pc of women.
Clear lines
Burchi had a number of suggestions for professionals looking to maximise their time so that there is more of a healthy disconnect between working hours and personal hours.
She stated employees should create a consistent transition between work and home that can help signal to the body that the demands of the day have ended.
“Where you can, deal with final messages before the journey home, then switch off work notifications for the evening,” she said. “After-hours checking keeps attention oriented to the next task and delays the point at which arousal can begin to subside.
“Try not to move straight from the commute into other commitments. Even five or 10 quiet minutes creates the recovery interval that allows autonomic activity to settle before the next demand begins.”
Burchi is also of the opinion that some mindfulness tasks can alleviate pressure and she advised slowing down your breathing, engaging in breathing exercises once safely at home and using movement to release excess energy.
“A short walk or gentle stretching can create a physical transition out of work mode. This may be particularly helpful for people who have spent much of their day sitting at a desk or in a car.”
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