You may think that running to the nearest bus stop is the fastest way for you to get there, but according to ScienceDaily.com, alternating between jogging and dashing may get you to your destination at almost the same amount of time and with a lot of energy to spare.

Researchers from Ohio State University did a field study on how 36 college students budgeted their time and energy to get from one place to another given that they had to arrive exactly when they were told to.They were provided with stop watches to monitor their performance.

According to the results, most people naturally switch between walking and running, revealing what is dubbed as the "transition region," or speeds between two to three meters per second, which stays constant regardless of height, weight, fitness, or time constraints. When a person is in the "transition region," the body optimizes energy output, and he or she arrives to an assigned place without feeling worn-out.

"Previously, some researchers have argued that the speed at which we break into a run was really determined by other factors, such as muscle forces. However, such factors cannot explain why we sometimes use a mixture of walking and running. Our findings suggest, qualitatively at least, that the body actually tends to move in ways that will conserve energy," study co-author and doctoral student Leroy Long III concludes.

So instead of consistently rushing, try to alternate walking and running. Not only will you feel less harassed, but you'll also have more than enough energy to help you get through the rest of your day.

(Photo by vonderauvisuals via Flickr Creative Commons)