To ask you about your hour long commute

[TravellingSpoon]

or if you had one and gave it up, how long did you do it for?

DH has done it previously and his current commute is 45 minutes, but he says that an hour is too long for a job that I want to take, despite my explaining that it would be really beneficial for my career (which I am just getting back on track, he is at the top of his because I spent 13 years being everything for everybody because he couldnt, but that is another thread!)

Should add that I wont be commuting at rush-hour times.

I work in central London and is day the majority of people have an hour commute; the ones with less tend to be in their 20s in flatshares in cheaper but relatively central locations.

I commute an hour each way - bike, train, tube, walk (more if there are train delays). I think I’d find an hour driving really tiring though.

Did you know you can set Google maps to different times of day and days of the week to see the usual travel times then? You don’t need to wait to the actual time to check.

DH has done up to two hours driving each day since Ive known him (10 years or so!) He sort of uses that time to go through stuff in his head, calls for work, calls to his friends, his mum, his dad and me. Means generally by the time he's home, his day is his own.

At the moment I'm also enjoying (not!) The same sort of commute. If I leave after 6:45 it turns into a 2.5 hour commute because of traffic. It can drive me bonkers but, I like you have spent much of my life being everything to everyone. Between the childcare, the bits at home, the odd run here and there to help DH at work and the odd contract covering someone, I've not really had the time to commit to my own career as such.

Now I've taken this contract it's so far, it's a pain, and my wages are roughly 1/4 of my DHs most of the time, but it's giving me a priceless opportunity to make decent work contacts, giving me more experiences, and beneficial opportunity to gain a recent and good reference, which to me makes it very worth it.

I would say, as a woman who has spent much of the past few years not earning a great deal of reliable income, and has spent a lot of time looking after the kids (who don't appreciate it) and the husband (who doesn't much understand it) and the dog (who sees me as only existing for his needs) etc, I really value the time at work for people to actually talk to, do a job that is for me, and at the end of the month, I have some money in my pocket that I can spend however I wish (usually on bills!)

Why are you letting him veto a career move you want to take? He's had his time to climb the ladder, take yours! An hour isnt much, and barely more than 45 mins. Maybe hes jealous or its an ego thing for him? Either way it sounds like its your time to shine x

I have commuted for an hour each way for 19 years. It used to be bus-train-walk to office, but now i drive all the way and walk about a mile to the office, since the bus route was axed about 10 years ago. It’s OK. The benefits of living where we do outweigh the drive.

I think it depends on your hours. I had a 2 hour commute each day for one job (central London) and changed to a local job that was a 20 min walk. But I was out of the house for more hours of the day for the second job so on balance it wasn’t better

I did an hour each way for 10 years! I don't think it is that bad, and pretty normal in the rural area I live. I current do and hour and a half each way which is much more draining.

I find listening to audio books or podcasts really helps on long commutes. I look forward to my quiet time!

Mine is 50mins. Some music and a travel mug with coffee, it's not too bad.

I did it for 3 years by car. Took nearly an hour to drive 15 miles. Listened to the radio a lot and a selection of CD's. Didn't particularly enjoy it, especially as much of it was sat in stationary traffic, but you get used to it.
Left that job for one much closer to home, the relief was enormous and drastically improved my quality of life.

Totally normal commute time in my experience. Mines 1hr 15 now, but has been anything from 1 hr to 2 hrs each way.

But, that’s by train / tube, I’m not sure I would be willing to drive that long. I read, work, switch off during my commute. I would fancy having to concentrate on driving.

I drove an hour each way for 23 years... You get used to it. The only time it was a problem was the very occasional day when it started to snow and the roads hadn't been gritted, so traffic came to a frozen standstill... My record for getting home was four and a half hours...
If it snowed overnight, the roads had usually been gritted (all main roads) so travel was okay, but took longer (usually about an hour and a half each way).
You need to consider emergency cover for those few days - but once you've done that, go for it..!!

I drive an hour each way on difficult countryside roads and I've done it for 15 years! Yes I get very tired in the winter but I get very long holidays so it balances out. I love my job though so it's worth it. Definitely couldn't do any longer of a commute though.

I do an hour each way 4 days a week. I love my job and where I work, plus the incredible flexibility my boss affords me to ensure that I don't miss my children's sports days/assemblies etc. But I've become fed up of it in the last few weeks. I think it's because one particular road that I bypass has been closed for resurfacing, so it's hugely impacted a section of my route. It took me an hour and a half a couple of weeks ago. Yet on Friday, I absolutely flew in with no issues at all.
My commute is 25 miles each way. I have a diesel car and spend approximately £90 a month on fuel.
Audiobooks help and podcasts are good if you can find one you like. I loved the My Dad Wrote A Porno series and I'm sure finishing that was the reason my commute seemed to become longer (although happily it's back now).
I almost didn't take this job because of the commute, it was my DH that pushed it as he knew it was perfect. What do YOU want to do?

Mine is fine. I take a coffee and read. On the occasions that I drive, I listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It's quite nice wind down time tbh.

No kids here - we will have to rearrange how we do things if we have them.

I'm in the south east commuting to London. Mine is 1hr, it's fine, many colleagues have longer

I had a one hour commute for over a decade. Sometimes public transport, sometimes driving. If you can fit the time in to your day, it’s all right. Lots of people have a commute of that duration. Audiobooks and podcasts are great and make the time fly in. You can always try it for a year and then see how you feel?

I did 1 hour 45 for 2 years and it was awful but my just under 60 mins current commute is fine - I switch off from normal life, focus on the drive and the radio and it's actually quite blissful as a decompress either side!

I've done it for 15+ years. It's fine - I catch up on podcasts/audiobooks on the way to work and family phone calls on the way home. Make sure that your car is comfy and reliable.