Train commute - survival tips

[RappelChoan]

I’ve started a new job recently with a commute of 60-60 minutes on the train (depending which one I catch) and 20 ish minutes either side. Office hours and some weekends. Working from home is not an option.

Would really appreciate any advice from people who do or have done this, what makes it easier please?

One of which I've endured daily for many, many years. These are my comforts and I stand by them.

Agree with making the time productive. I commuted for 12 years pre-Covid and I really miss it now (although WFH benefits my life in many other ways). You'll feel rubbish about it if you scroll - read a book or have a series downloaded to watch.

If you're likely to fall asleep on the way home, set an alarm for a few minutes before you should get to your stop.

My commute is about the same as yours, been doing it for three years now. My top three things are :
Get everything ready the night before, and I mean everything
Have no truck with people taking up two or more seats - my train comes from another city , passes through mine and on to London, and people who get on first seem to think they can take up an entire table with all their crap, sitting there with eyes shut and headphones on. I don't waste time looking for a seat with no bag on it I just say "Excuse me!" And tap them if needed.
A book and a bottle of water.

How odd that a grown adult cant spend an hour on a train to work without hot drinks and snacks and a wardrobe full of clothes to be snuggly just in case.

You appear to have missed that she was asking for advice about a daily commute - there is no depending how long the journey is. She told you the length.

Headphones.
Emergency headphones
Spare headphones
A bag big enough to hold the shoes you will wear once you get to work ( if you can't leave them.at work that is I wasn't allowed to arrive at work in trainers)
A pair of Sketchers or fit flops for the walking
Did I mention headphones?
Kindle
Download TV programmes on your phone
Headphones

I treated myself to a book subscription for my train commute because I'd get through so many. Earphones with Spotify playlists.

Sometimes I'd listen to a podcast or an audio book just to mix it up.

Backpack is essential. And I bought extra laptop chargers so I never had to carry one on me. One at the office, one at home and one as a spare. I tried to carry the least amount possible.

But I always carried paracetamol. A headache was inevitable a couple of times a month and if it comes on on the train its usually gone by the time I got off if I had paracetamol.

Turtle doves or similar are great too because you still have the use of your fingers proper! And in the winter a pacamac.

Am I reading this right? It’s only an hour on the train and a 20 min walk either end? You shouldn’t really need survival tips for what is a perfectly normal train journey

Noise cancelling headphones. Hand sanitiser. Good thermal coffee cup. Wipes/tissues. Vicks for under your nose; lots of people (men) stink now and some people choose to eat strong-smelling food in the carriage.

there is no depending how long the journey is. She told you the length.

There absolutely is a “depending how long the journey is”. The expected length of the journey does not always relate to how long it takes in practice. I have had weeks where I’ve been applying for delay repay on every journey.

Rain-proof parka. Trainers. Rucksack. Phone and charger. Something to read.

Orrr... you could just move on to another thread?

Wow thats nice.

I agree with you, @Sidebeforeself

It’s a commute, not a trek to base camp on Everest.

Noise cancelling headphones / mp3 player or use your phone
Phone charger
Audible / Music subscription
Kindle
Hand sanitiser / antibac wipes
Face mask...other people coughing and sneezing near you...ick
Comfy shoes to change into
Paracetamol / Ibruprofen
Spare knickers / sanitary protection
Decent backpack or rucksack
Good leakproof thermal mug
Fold up umbrella
Scarf / gloves for winter

Who are you talking to? I'm confused who you are arguing with, because you seem to be arguing with yourself?!
You mentioned OP was on about a daily commute, riiiight so do you think that a daily train commute is a strict length of time? Hmm.
For your information my daily commute was two hours each way on the train alone for over 20 years. Just recently I have switched and I am only on the train for thirty mins max each way and I still take these comforts with me because I will be hungry on my way home, I will have sore feet and I don't want to endure a cold cabin. But you do you..
Also - whose bringing a wardrobe full of clothes?! Comfy clothes ie trousers! Also trainers go in the backpack I mentioned - hardly a wardrobe is it?

It's not particularly fruitful (or nice) to essentially reply "why have you bothered to ask this silly question?" - if you think it's a pointless thread, it saves your time and everyone else's to read it, eyeroll, and post on something you do think is worth the bother.

I don’t think she meant “survival” in the literal sense.

I think you are wasting your time with me…

No neither did I . But it’s not a mega journey that you need to plan for beyond the obvious.

I am, yes, but I'm waiting for a work email, so heck, gotta waste it somehow...

portable cutlery set to eat your breakfast on the train.

@Sidebeforeself , I'd say the obvious is getting caught in torrential rain before getting on the train at either end, and wrecking my feet.
Rucksack for laptop and me dinner.

I do 3.5hrs each way, once or twice a week. 2.5 hrs of that is a single train.

in the morning I do (quick), mess free makeup (mascara, brows, lipgloss), have coffee and granola, and then enjoy 2 hours of work catch up, uninterrupted by calls etc. and get ahead of the day. So- I’d say you need make up bag, phone & charger / laptop & charger, headphones, coffee and breakfast.

In the evening I tend to get a late train, so I have dinner (usually a salad or sushi), a glass of wine or gin in a tin, and deal with life admin- online grocery shopping, booking kids clubs, paying bills, holiday prep, whatsapping friends. If I’m exceptionally busy at work I’ll try and do a low-risk task that needs doing like background research or an admin task I can do mindlessly, that won’t matter if I go slowly and where I can’t make a serious error. If I’m totally wiped by the day, I’ll watch Twilight and eat a massive bar of dairy milk.
Evening essentials for me would be headphones, diary/notepad, dinner, wine, chocolate. I also take a big woolly scarf in my bag so I can get cosy as it tends to be cold on the later trains.

I prefer to squash all of my commuting into one or two longer days tbh; really enjoy the productivity in the mornings and the chance to quietly catch up with life in the evenings.

Why are some people so unpleasant on a very normal thread? Everyone is different. Not all tips will suit all.

If you can… don’t get the cheapest ones… I splashed out on some rather lovely Bose headphones for my commute and they are one of the best purchases I’ve ever made!