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I don't drive. For my primary 2 hour 30 minute commute, the college has arranged a carpool system, so that is comfy and has very few hassles.
For the once a week 4 hour commute, I take 2 trains - 1 a subway, then a local intercity. On the plus side, the trains are absurdly cheap, fairly regular and fast. But they are crowded, so getting a seat is a bit iffy, and the intercity is crowded. But then again, this is becoming my primary audiobook time.
Mentalist, on 01 February 2018 - 03:31 AM, said:
Andorion, on 01 February 2018 - 02:30 AM, said:
Another thing messing with my groove - my commute
My normal commute is - 2 hours and 30 minutes total both ways, and on wednesdays when I have to go to a totally different campus, its 4 hours both ways.
People who commute, how bad is this?
My normal commute is - 2 hours and 30 minutes total both ways, and on wednesdays when I have to go to a totally different campus, its 4 hours both ways.
People who commute, how bad is this?
4 hours is a bit excessive.
if there's any hint of traffic or bad weather, my commute can stretch up to hour and a half one way. not factoring in any subway malfunctions, which, as QT will confirm, are rather frequent.
On a good day, especially on my way home, if I catch all both buses w/o excessive waiting, I can pull off close to an hour.
so yeah, I'd say 3 hours is still more or less normal, but 4 on a regular basis is pushing it a bit. if it's only once a week, that's not too bad, imho.
Yeah, its once a week, and probably won't be around after June.
Tsundoku, on 01 February 2018 - 12:19 PM, said:
5 minutes from my garage to work car park.
I've previously had 1- 1 1/2 hour commutes though, so I figure it's only fair.
I've previously had 1- 1 1/2 hour commutes though, so I figure it's only fair.
Well somebody has gotten their life worked out!
Silencer, on 01 February 2018 - 12:30 PM, said:
15 minute walk.
I used to do a 30 minute drive, maybe up to 45 in bad traffic as my "everyday" commute - going to my work's second location was anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on traffic conditions. The first one was not ideal, but is what I'd consider "normal". The latter is unacceptable and is an utter waste of time.
We're at a point where the standard working hours of 40 a week is being looked at as excessive and bad for productivity. I'm fully on board with that number going down. But if you subscribe to the 8/8/8 split of your day (8 hours of work, 8 of play, and 8 of sleep), the current 8 hour work day is even more bullshit. Because you're spending 8 hours at work and then 2 hours commuting - time which you don't get paid for, but is definitely not leisure time, either (worse if you're driving, but I do envy the people who can read and whatnot on public transport). So either your sleep or leisure time is reduced by that trip, which is why the old "work/life" balance is fucked up.
If you're spending even more time than that commuting? That's just bad for your health, imo. It has to have a negative impact on your relaxation time to some degree. Waking up earlier than necessary to get to work on time, or just spending time doing nothing productive while travelling...blegh.
*disclaimer - I may have just spent most of 10 hours today working, because apparently if you give me the ability to work from home and the team's SLA is on the line, I become even more of a workaholic. But honestly that's not a good thing.
I used to do a 30 minute drive, maybe up to 45 in bad traffic as my "everyday" commute - going to my work's second location was anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on traffic conditions. The first one was not ideal, but is what I'd consider "normal". The latter is unacceptable and is an utter waste of time.
We're at a point where the standard working hours of 40 a week is being looked at as excessive and bad for productivity. I'm fully on board with that number going down. But if you subscribe to the 8/8/8 split of your day (8 hours of work, 8 of play, and 8 of sleep), the current 8 hour work day is even more bullshit. Because you're spending 8 hours at work and then 2 hours commuting - time which you don't get paid for, but is definitely not leisure time, either (worse if you're driving, but I do envy the people who can read and whatnot on public transport). So either your sleep or leisure time is reduced by that trip, which is why the old "work/life" balance is fucked up.
If you're spending even more time than that commuting? That's just bad for your health, imo. It has to have a negative impact on your relaxation time to some degree. Waking up earlier than necessary to get to work on time, or just spending time doing nothing productive while travelling...blegh.
*disclaimer - I may have just spent most of 10 hours today working, because apparently if you give me the ability to work from home and the team's SLA is on the line, I become even more of a workaholic. But honestly that's not a good thing.
Yeah, I get what you are saying. I am somewhat lucky that being a teacher, I get to be productive for nearly the entire time I am at work, and being a reader, audiobooks take the sting out of the long commutes somewhat, but in general our work life balance is a bit skewed.
Puck, on 01 February 2018 - 01:30 PM, said:
Andorion, on 01 February 2018 - 02:30 AM, said:
Another thing messing with my groove - my commute
My normal commute is - 2 hours and 30 minutes total both ways, and on wednesdays when I have to go to a totally different campus, its 4 hours both ways.
People who commute, how bad is this?
My normal commute is - 2 hours and 30 minutes total both ways, and on wednesdays when I have to go to a totally different campus, its 4 hours both ways.
People who commute, how bad is this?
My commute is three hours total, but I only work two or three days a week at that place, so I don't mind. I would mind if I had to do that every day during the work week. I honestly think it depends on what your possibilities are and how often it happens. For example, if you have an hour + of commute time but can't afford to move closer to your work place (as in my case) but at the same time, you're taking a public transport where you read (if so inclined) or whatever, I don't see it as that much of a bad thing. I get a lot of reading done on the train and I certainly don't envy people who drive to work, especially if it's a long-ish drive. Driving seems to me like a waste of time if taking the train takes only a bit longer but allows me to do something else in the meantime. I'd be spending that extra hour of leisure time with reading anyway. Also, psychologically, I see my commute time in the morning as the perfect time to wake up and get mentally ready for work (I don't do that at home, I just drown my coffee and am out the door). While when driving you need to be awake and mentally present the moment you get into the car, dosing on the train is perfactly viable. Samr goes for my after work commute; it's the perfect time to think about what I want to make for dinner and what I need to buy for that, etc. Honestly, even if I had a driver's license I would still take the train because I need the time pre work to get mentally ready.
Sure, a shorter commute is nicer, but personally I'm not too fazed about anything that takes about an hour one way. Two hours seems excessive, but if it's only once a week it sounds alright unless you personally find it unbearable and/or have the means to move.
Yeah I would hate to have to drive for my commutes. Traffic here is horrific, I would be tense all the time and would be exhausted by the time I turn up for work.
Mentalist, on 01 February 2018 - 02:30 PM, said:
As long as you don't drive, commuting isn't terrible.
In the morning, I get more sleep commuting.
In the evening, I read (or sleep some more).
But I started commuting about 12 years ago (when I got my first summer job), and the commute was about 3 hours both way for a 9 or 10 hour shift, so my worldview might be biased.
In the morning, I get more sleep commuting.
In the evening, I read (or sleep some more).
But I started commuting about 12 years ago (when I got my first summer job), and the commute was about 3 hours both way for a 9 or 10 hour shift, so my worldview might be biased.
QuickTidal, on 01 February 2018 - 02:39 PM, said:
Mentalist, on 01 February 2018 - 02:30 PM, said:
As long as you don't drive, commuting isn't terrible.
In the morning, I get more sleep commuting.
In the evening, I read (or sleep some more).
But I started commuting about 12 years ago (when I got my first summer job), and the commute was about 3 hours both way for a 9 or 10 hour shift, so my worldview might be biased.
In the morning, I get more sleep commuting.
In the evening, I read (or sleep some more).
But I started commuting about 12 years ago (when I got my first summer job), and the commute was about 3 hours both way for a 9 or 10 hour shift, so my worldview might be biased.
I second ALL of this. Now that I have a child, my home-time is usually taken up by either looking after her morning routine or nighttime routine, and then watching TV with my wife....so my commute is where I do ALL my reading.
I'm about 1hr+ each way...and there are a lot of delays that make it more like 1.5hrs.
But it's fine. I read, or watch something on my phone. It's quiet, and enjoyable ME time.
I also used to commute about 2-3hrs each way for 6 years.
I have found that audiobooks are better than reading on public transport. This way my hands are free and this is important as I quite often don't get a seat on the subway.
amphibian, on 01 February 2018 - 04:37 PM, said:
A daily commute of 1-2 hours one way would be a deal breaker for me in some way. I would move closer or get a different job.
For the last ten years, my commute has been 15-25 minutes driving one way.
The amount of time I can put into other things in comparison to someone who has a one way commute of over an hour accumulates mightily over years. I will get more family time, more leisure time,and I can even work more. If I feel like it, I can go home for lunch, which helps when my partner is away and the dog needs a run or if something needs doing at home.
That's worth a decent wad of money. My answer would be the same if this were a situation in which public transportation was the method I used to get to work. I don't want to spend two or four hours of every day sitting in transportation just to get to work and home.
People may make their choices differently regarding this, but I come down firmly on the "live close to work" side. I realize this is very hard for many people in major cities due to skyrocketing rent/housing prices, but I would do everything I could to chop twenty to thirty minutes off that hour plus commute. My ex lived in Manhattan and she managed to find a place that gave her a single bedroom with a thirty minute sub/walk trip to work every day.
For the last ten years, my commute has been 15-25 minutes driving one way.
The amount of time I can put into other things in comparison to someone who has a one way commute of over an hour accumulates mightily over years. I will get more family time, more leisure time,and I can even work more. If I feel like it, I can go home for lunch, which helps when my partner is away and the dog needs a run or if something needs doing at home.
That's worth a decent wad of money. My answer would be the same if this were a situation in which public transportation was the method I used to get to work. I don't want to spend two or four hours of every day sitting in transportation just to get to work and home.
People may make their choices differently regarding this, but I come down firmly on the "live close to work" side. I realize this is very hard for many people in major cities due to skyrocketing rent/housing prices, but I would do everything I could to chop twenty to thirty minutes off that hour plus commute. My ex lived in Manhattan and she managed to find a place that gave her a single bedroom with a thirty minute sub/walk trip to work every day.
Yeah, but since both my current campuses are in rural areas with absolutely zero local amenities, it isn't really an option for me. I mean my view for the last 10 minutes before I enter the gates is exclusively crop fields and fish ponds.
