Is a 2 hour commute too much?

[Aubreylights]

It’s 1:35 (3 days a week) but I’m over estimating with travel.

It’s for a company I’d love to work for but that amount of travelling is off putting.

each way? I've done a nearly 2 hour each way, but i had older DCs and it was for a limited time (I used that time productively tho)

1.35 each way- I wouldn’t say it’s drastically long but I wouldn’t do it if I finished at 5.30/6pm.
in London I’d say my commute 3 days a week is an hour each way and it’s fine.

For five days then yes, for three no. My DS does three days with that commute and never comments on it.

For me I wouldn't consider anything over 45 min. I don't have the patience to deal with transport delays or being stuck in traffic, and earlier starts and later finishes due to commute time, and not being able to do pickups and restricting after school activities. I have a 20 min walking commute now and can do school dropoffs, can pop back for assemblies etc, and quality of life is so much better.

Gosh I'd never even consider it but from where I live I could cover 100 miles in 2 hours. We're both very lucky to now have under 15 min commutes each and it has been absolutely life changing.

How are you travelling?
Car - depends what kind of roads you're on (and the traffic). Busy motorways - no thanks (for me); windy country roads - no thinks. A roads without loads of junctions and stop/starts, not as bad but still exhausting

Train - reliable journey with no connections (or 1 v straightforward one max) - maybe, if I was guaranteed a seat (with a table) and could work/read - maybe...
If it was standing/lots of changes/long walk or drive at either end - no thanks.

So it very much depends what kind of journey. But I'd have to LOVE the job to do it. And know I wasn't going to be held up at the end of the day.

Remember to factor in the cost of commuting to any potential salary increase - don't leave yourself worse off!

Would you be driving or on public transport? Being able to work or relax on the journey makes a huge difference.

With no/older kids, and if it was a dream job with an amazing salary, I’d do it. Train would be preferable though as you could at least spend that time reading and winding down a bit. Although you do have to factor in getting to and from the station.

Agree it's a very personal thing!

Mines only 35 minutes if I walk, 25 if I take ds to work and 10 if I drive straight there!

I'm not a traffic type person 🤣🤣

Depends on how often it will be 1.35 as opposed to 2 hrs - is it a route with likelihood of daily delays or is that worst case scenario and likely to be rare? Also, is it a comfortable journey - ie 1.25 on a train where you will definitely get a seat and can maybe use the time productively vs a multi change journey where you’ll have to stand all the way etc. That would definitely make a difference to me as to whether I could put up with it or not.

i do 1.45 door to door.. 5 days a week, on the train. Currently have no children so it is possible but it leaves very little time or energy for anything else in the week, dinner needs to be quick, no going to the gym and in bed by 10 latest. i would LOVE to only have to do this 3 days a week it would be life changing. you will be fine, get used to it very quickly (assuming this is train..anything else might be a different story)

I used to do 2 hours each way (5 days a week) and found the commute too much.

3 days is more feasible if you're really interested in the job

It entirely depends on how you would travel, whether you could use the time productively (or at least pleasantly), whether you have young DC or other family responsibilities, etc.

I my early 20s, with no DC I happily did that every day.
Now in my 40s with a family I do it a couple of days a week at most (DH does the same but we do our best to travel on different days)

2 hours each way is really pushing it, 1.5 hours much more feasible especially if only 3 x a week.
Depends on how reliable journey time is/ mode of transport and caring responsibilities.
I regularly did 1.5 hour commute each way 5 days a week by train/ tube/ walk in my twenties before DC and it was fine, wouldnt fancy it after DC though.
But 3 x a week sounds more possible than 5 x a week. Is the job worth it?

I drive that duration about twice a week. It's exhausting. I try not to do it on
consecutive days.

My dc are old enough to lock up and get themselves to school.

a 4 hour round trip?! Not if i could avoid it.

train, possibly. Driving? No.

I do a 100 mile each way commute with shift work , full time and have done for nearly 20 years . Much will depend on the mode of transportation. I'm a lot less tired when I can go by train rather than drive it. My journey can be between 2and a half hours and 3 , depending on traffic.

I did it (by public transport) 5 days a week for the better part of 20 years, and found I got into a good routine. Crucially, though, the train service on my line was generally very good, I didn't have a family to worry about and DH did the same commute.

Depends. I did that for years in London, 5 days a week. Even when DD was at nursery. It was not ideal and I'm glad I don't have to do it anymore but it was more the stress about tubes/trains not running rather than the actual time it took if that makes sense (as I had to get back before nursery closing time).
You get used to it. I wouldn't want to drive that amount of time, but on a train etc it's not too bad as you can sit and relax a bit, listen to music, read a book etc.

That said it's not something I'd ever consider again (I now work fully remotely), but I'm glad I did it when I did as it really helped my career.

Each way or one way? Could you work on public transport or would you be driving? How will the cost effect your take home pay?

I once had a 90 minute drive (each way) to a teaching placement as a trainee. It was exhausting. I ended up finding local accommodation in a B&B who gave me a great weekly rate in the depths of winter!

No way, but then I work for myself now and won't drive more than 15 minutes for a job.

I used to work a 45 minute drive away and it was hell, especially in winter. I'd never do it again unless I had absolutely no other choice.

Depends on a number of things; what's your home set up? What kind of career step is it? Does it pay well? How long for?

Would I do it as an enthusiastic young adult with no dependents foreseeing the longer term benefits? Yes absolutely.

Would I do it now as a parent with other responsibilities, knowing there are alternative ways to develop (in my sector)? No I wouldn't.

I travel 1 hour 15 minutes each way, on a combination of train and tube 4 days a week to attend my dream job.

It's also a killer, given my last job was 45 minutes travel, and I definitely notice the extra 1 hour per day. It can also take longer if there are any transport issues, which are fortunately quite rare. I'm wiped out by Thursday evening, and ready for my WfH Friday.

I wouldn't do 2 hours each way as a regular commute for any job, personally I feel it's just too far away.

Driving it would be too long for me, train would be ok.