Is this a 'normal' commute for most people?

[Celia24]

Im struggling with current commute and can't tell if it's mainly because I got so used to work from home and need perspective!

I joined a company during lockdown and worked from home for over a year. When I joined they said I might need to come in twice a week later on (not as much as other people as I live further away as do two other colleagues). They have only just made office working mandatory a year and a half in, initially trying for more days, but there was a bit of an uproar.

So now I'm travelling in twice a week 1 hour 50-2 hours door to door and I'm already struggling. Am I being ridiculous? In my old job it was 25 mins but I loathed the job!

I did 10 minute bike ride, 90 minutes bus, 5 minute walk for 3 years. Hated it by the end.
I now have a 10 minute bike ride.

Hubbies is that and he drives. Done it for 16 years as very lucrative job but he gets very cranky the days he commutes (understandably) He is counting down the years till wecan afford fof him to take a liwer paid job closer ( mortgage paid off)

I think you just have to decide if it's too long for you.

I did a similar commute five days a week for years and whilst it was a pain, it was worth it - for me.

I now wfh almost full time except for a 3hr each way drive once a week. Personally that's fine for me as I like driving so don't mind doing six hours one day a week. But others might hate that.

Mine is 1hr 20 (London). Pre pandemic I used to do it every day, so was totally used to it. now just twice a week. I think 2hrs would push me over the edge and wouldn’t be doable with kids at all.

Mine is the same time as yours, but I only do it 4 days a month and the rest of the time I work from home.
The days I do go into the office I am bloody exhausted. It's a long time to be in the car so I feel your pain

Get a new job - not only is that a long commute it also sounds like the money isn't great anyway.

I do an hour an a half each way. Most weeks in 2 days. Leave at 6.30am and home by 9.00pm. I find it manageable 2 days and prefer to 3 or 4 days in the office which I only do occasionally post covid.

Definitely long and in some ways 2 days can feel worse as its not enough to get use to it.

Could you work on the train then have a half day later in the week so your long days bring down your hours rather than being dead time on the train? That might feel a little better?

That's A LOT longer than I'd be happy to do. Mine is 30 minutes door to door.

You need to push back now that I've seen you're commuting just to sit in online meetings which you can do at home.

If you're only going in twice a week then I'd say it's not too bad. I used ti do the same, but a lot depends on the actual drive, if it's 90 mins on the motorway where you can stick the car in cruise control it's fine, if hate it if it was constant traffic and city driving

I did a commute like that every weekday for over 10 years. I was never allowed to work from home. It’s only Covid that has stopped it. Yes, it was tiring but I loved reading on the train. I’m glad I don’t have to do it every day full-time anymore and it’s no longer compatible with my lifestyle now I have a child. For me, two days a week wouldn’t have been a problem.

I did 1hr 45 mins each way, 5 days a week for some years ( in m 40s/50s) including 45 mins if walking. It made me quite fit!
London though, where long commutes are much more normal.

That’s an insanely long commute for a small salary.

It’s basically the equivalent of doing an extra eight-hour day every week for no extra money.

That's a very long commute, I wouldn't do it even twice a week. Did you not consider they may return to full time office working?

We have both been in full time since May 21

4 hours travelling a day, for £30k a year?

it doesn’t sound like it could possibly be worth it. I’d look for another job, closer to home - if possible.

Mine is two hours door to door - on a commuter coach. I enjoy the me time to be honest.

I think you're crazy doing that commute for a job that pays less than £30k! Surely there are jobs closer to home that pay the same if not more? And to those doing similar 5 days a week!! That's the definition of living to work, as opposed to working to live.

I'm semi retired now and can walk to my job if I feel like it (5 mins in the car), but my longest ever commute was my first job at 18, a 10 min walk, 20 min bus ride, 20 min walk. I have never, and would never, have a job that required me to leave the house before 8am.

I don't know about the OP, but I'd earn much less working a half an hour away from home. Much, much less, even taking into account the cost of commuting.

In my company a two hour commute is normal. Many people moved further away from the office during covid. They did advise you of two days a week when you were interviewed....

So your options are suck it up or find a new job.

Mine is a 10 minute drive. I wouldn't want to commute any longer than 30 mins.

I used to commute an hour each way. However I had to do 12 hour shifts and nightshifts which I really struggled with so left after 6 months.

I know people who commute 2 hours each way now and have done for years! Not something i could do, but we are all different.

Now i have a 15/20 min commute and it is perfect for me.

I got a new job last year after WFH since the pandemic started. Old job was in same town so even pre pandemic my commute was only 4 miles. New job is 50 miles away, takes up to an hour on the motorway in good traffic. I go in twice a week which is manageable but any more would be a pain due to the cost of fuel. However, as more and more is being done face to face I'm finding pressures to go in more often, which isn't sustainable longer term.

It's a long commute but is the train journey usable time? Can you get a seat and work on the train reducing your need to work in the evenings when you get home? My commute is by car so it is dead time and I used to do an hour each way but it was a killer as I then had to start working again once I was home. If I could have taken a train it would have been better.