Commuter tips

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

I’m starting a new job in the next few weeks. My previous commutes have always been walking or driving, but this one involves a tube or walk, train and bus.

Give me your top tips for surviving and maybe even enjoying my commute. Duration door to door is about 55 minutes.

Kindle, podcasts, good thermos mug and comfy shoes.

Optimised embarcation standing point on train and tube platforms.
Key for efficient commuting.

Also running shoes (keep the nice shoes in office drawer)

Wear layers. Always carry an umbrella. Comfy shoes/trainers.

podcasts
and I agree to trainers for the commute. much more comfortable should you have to stand or walk longer than expected.

make sure you are familiar with alternative routes should there be issues with weather or other things.

That doesn't sound like a simple commute.

Download the Network Rail train app to let you know whether there are problems with trains to/from your route.

A good travel flask/mug is also worth buying.
My Contigo Autoseal was an Xmas present from DH, possibly 6 or 7 years ago. It is still going strong.

Podcasts/audiobooks are good if you have noise cancelling headphones. My library really upped their stock during lockdown.

Wait for Black Friday if you want a Kindle. A Fire/iPad will probably get through a lot more battery but you can use them with BorrowBox etc.

Layers

I have a 15 minute walk to the station and power walk it so always arrive feeling like I’m about to over heat which isn’t great when you’re about to get on a full train with standing room only.

Also audio books rather than an actual book or Kindle. My commute is an hour of walk, train, tube and another tube. I’m not on one for more than 12 minutes so if I read I’m constantly having to check I’m not going to miss my stop. Audio books are so much easier and I can still play Candy crush when I fancy it

Just need something to do? Most ppl would spend most the journey on their phone.

Agree with other posters:

Learn to wait at the best possible place on the platform so you get off best your exit.

Get a decent travel mug/water bottle for your commute.

Have something to read/do, makes the commute more bearable.

Sometimes, the most direct route isn't quickest, so play around with your commute eg consider how easy it is to change lines (some line changes are on the same platform, others involved walking in tunnels and up and down escalators).

Walking part of your journey is sometimes quicker and more pleasant - many of the tube stops in Central London are close to easy other.

Make sure your bag is secure as it is easy to br pick pocketed on a packed tube. I only have zip, buckle type bags and keep my bag is front of me when it's busy. Thr vast majority of people I know haven't been pick pocketed, but it can easily happen, so people yourself.

Finally... commuting is a dog eat dog world. People will push in front of you to get on tube etc so you need to learn to hold your own.

Citymapper app, give it your home and work details and it will tell you before you leave home if there is an issue and suggest alternatives.
If there is any flexibility in your start/finish times find the travel time that works for you -i found a slightly later start/finish meant the trains were quieter, and similarly a slightly longer route could be much easier (less crowded, got a seat, or more walking to a different stop made it easier).

Don't start saying hello to people otherwise you'll have to do it every morning.

Install your work Outlook /Teams on your phone so you can work/respond to messages during your commute.

You need an umbrella with you at all time, buy a practical bag that contains everything, lunch, water bottle, etc.

A bag that's comfy to hold, not too bulky, easy to put between feet when tube crowded.

Oh and paper masks, I find cotton ones get too wet on the tube.

I'm an avid list maker so often used travel time for planning: meal planning; shopping lists; to do lists; Christmas planning; packing lists for holidays; party planning etc.
I always preferred a notebook but you won't always have a seat on that commute but could use your phone.
A phone charging pack would be useful