How did I end up with a job where I get up at 5.30am?!

[shouldntBeButIAm]

Just drinking my swift coffee and getting ready for work and wondering how I ended up with a job getting up at 5.30 and an almost 2 hour commute each way! AIBU for thinking there must be more to life?!

@Harls1969

I'm a commuter and it's not as easy as you might think to change your life. I'm late 50s and have applied for over 40 jobs nearer to home without success.

As my job has changed, my hours have lengthened. I now get up at 4 am and get home at 7.15 pm.

My friends son works permanent nights ...sleeps all day with just one full day off
He’s a single lad
He’s never going to meet anyone

Oh my lord sally..don’t know how you do it

Taking the moral high ground one sometimes falls over one's feet Harls1969

Sorry Harls1969, That was a comment on your post that you have to do something about it. I see you have tried.
It didn't work when I did 'something about it'. Lost the house, most of our possessions (we had nowhere for them to go). Thank god we're past that now and our marriage, that had been extremely rocky (two depressed people under that amount of stress...) has survived and is stronger than ever.

Hi @shouldntBeButIAm I do a similar commute (albeit only 50% of the time). Daily train fare would be £65, but annual train fare is ~ £5k. I'd be frankly amazed if similar economics didn't apply for you.

I've done long-distance commuting a lot (currently Sussex => London, previously Hants => Bristol ) and it either does or doesn't suit. It shouldn't be costing you ~ 30k per annum pre-tax salary though.

beingsooverthehill I hope your son is doing better hours now.

beingmum39 thank you for getting us to work! Although I'm currently walking to my latest (nursing) assignment

I now do freelance work and will never ever do night shifts or long commutes again - I'd rather clean floors.

I get up at 5, get coach just after 6. Get into work by 8. I quite enjoy being up that early but I think I'm nocturnal since I had my second who doesn't sleep

I can't say what I do as it's outing but it literally does just exist in London.

This might be a stupid question but what is a commuter town? I see it on here a lot. A town you live in but don't work in?

I guess it’s a town full of residents who work in the nearest big city.

A commuter town is one that almost nobody who lives in works in. It will have some basic shops but no offices or industry to employ people.

I do sympathise with you. Could you work on the train whilst on your way to work? That way, you could spend less time in the "office", leaving earlier than usual to get home earlier? Could you work at all at home? I work a twenty minute drive away but commute two hours each way to London two-three times a week. It is tiring but I love my job and think it's worth it. My son is grown up though and away at uni. I've always been career driven and just prefer days in London compared to days in my local office. I have the option of working from home but hate doing that. Have a chat with your manager and talk about your options. Good luck :)

I think a balence is best. I used to commute one hour each way and got sick of it, so I moved a 10 minute walk from work. Unfortunately I don't like this either. Every time I leave the house on non working days, I run in to colleagues. They are nice and all but I see enough of them at work! Going to local cafes etc is out for that reason. Even just taking a walk on the street, I can see work and it's depressing!

I'm now looking at moving 30 minutes drive away.