Do-able Commute to work

bamgbost

Hi Guys


In this day and age a lot of us are doing a reasonable commute to work


I've had a few jobs over the years and all with various driving commuting lengths.


e.g.
Job 1 - 7 miles ( through city) = 20mins
Job 2 - 13 miles (highway) = 15mins
Job 3 - 20 miles (highway) = 35mins


Now about to move jobs to a new job and its 45miles (highway) will take about an hour.


An hour in principal sounds reasonable drive to me, and I understand it means losing 2 hours a day on travel. But I just wondered how common these commutes are nowadays?


And for people who have done such commutes, has it been ok / sustainable. Or do you eventually burn out and regret it??


(I'd prefer to ignore the whole car maintenance and fuel costs aspect of things. Literally wanna know how common such commutes are and people experience of doing sustained travel on a FULL Time basis)


Thanks!

[Deleted User]

I did 2 hours each way for a couple of years before calling it a day.

Ultimately, it took much toll on my time, with family responsibilities, and my sleep was cut to about 5-6 hours.

If I was younger/single, it probably would have been more sustainable.

V2-Schneider

It takes me about 45mins to get to work in the mornings (leave at 6:30, get in at about 7:10-15) driving across the M5 from inner Bristol - but to get back in takes about 1h to 1h10. I've done it for about 15 months now, and I'd be lying if I told you it wasn't a huge ball ache. The petrol's expensive, having to struggle in traffic with a banging headache is not fun by any stretch of the imagination, and consistently waking up at 5:30 every morning has an impact on sleep/wellbeing.

But, it's a means to an end. I'm expecting and looking forward to moving a lot closer to work in a year's time. As a relatively young person (25) with very few commitments, I can put up with it. If I was older, more prone to exhaustion, and had a family to cater for, I very much doubt I'd be able to suffer the commute.

bamgbost

Deleted_User wrote: »

I did 2 hours each way for a couple of years before calling it a day.

Ultimately, it took much toll on my time, with family responsibilities, and my sleep was cut to about 5-6 hours.

If I was younger/single, it probably would have been more sustainable.

Wow 2 hours e/w! Was that all driving? For 2+ yrs ish? Now that does sound a lot.


I've always said an hour max. Which I am now about to do. Only one way to find out if its my limit, I guess!

[Deleted User]

I'd say an hour is pretty reasonable - especially if door to door and if you don't have kids to pick up or ferry around.

It's if you then have parking/walking/tube journeys at either end, that it starts to really eat into your time.

It might also be a problem if you don't actually enjoy driving, or find it stressful.

LilElvis

I used to do a commute that took 4 1/2 to 5 hours per day. Drive to station, train into london, 2 tube lines, a train out of London and then a walk. My salary made it worthwhile but it was extremely debilitating as evenings were just cooking dinner, eating it and then going to bed.

elsien

Because I have a homeworking contract and can travel to miss the traffic, my commute is generally an hour. If I mistime it and hit traffic (or if I had to do the 9-5run) it would take me anything between 1 1/2 - 2 hours each way. I would give the job up if I had to do that on a regular basis outside of my normal working day. By the time I get home, walk the dog and cook tea, it's nearly bed time. I value my work life balance far too much.

Have your timings taken account of rush hour traffic? Until I started the longer motorway commute, I had no idea how many crashes and hold ups there actually are.

iammumtoone

My max is 20 minutes each way on a bad day 10 mins on a good.

I would not take a job further away. Single working mother who wants to spend non work hours with her Son not traveling. I accept lower pay due to this I would get more for what I do if I was prepared to travel.

The downside is my brain does not have time to switch off. I am home and with Son whilst still thinking about work. In some ways a longer commute would be better as you have time to get your end of day work thinking done before you get home so when you walk through the door you are ready to relax for the evening.

bamgbost

THanks for the responses guys.... im finding them very helpful.


I agree with a number of your points. I defo find that recent commutes allow me to unwind from work and relax when home.


In terms of traffic. I have only done it a few times but during the commuting time and indeed it still came up as 1h5mins ish. - Accidents are unpredictable, and you'd like to hope they are few and far between!

[Deleted User]

I do 60 miles in a day currently - short term.
I get there for just before 7am (as includes parking nightmare so I am motivated to get there early) for 7.30am start.
Finish at 4pm ish

Takes about 50 mins a journey if roads are good.

The A12 is absolutely ok with these right timings I believe.

I've travelled further but that was years ago and again short term over the summer.

It's all about the timmings of the job!.

Fireflyaway

My current journey is just 2 miles across town. I leave early and there is no traffic. Might even walk in the summer.
Previously I did 45 mins on country roads / dual carriage. It was fine, I chilled out to the radio / had a little sing etc!
My husband does 2 hours each way. Pretty much writes off doing anything during the week and he is exhausted but he enjoys his job and it pays well enough to justify.
Im thinking depends on the method of transport. An hour driving I'd be fine with but an hour on a couple of buses no!
Ensure you have breakdown cover, a blanket, few snacks just in case!