If you have a long walk to work...

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Got a new job and the walk is 50 minutes.
I could do with more fresh air, more exercise, all the usual things. Anyone got a similar length walk and is it OK? (I know you cant all know my exact fitness etc etc )
But generally speaking?
I'm figuring when I was London based getting home took me an hour, and only 20 mins of that was on a bus.

Oh I'd love that!
When I was living in Paris, I used to take the metro to go to work, and walk on the way back, that was a good 1h10 journey, and it was the best time of the day, a proper decompression buffer after work.
It was pre-podcast so I was mostly listening to music and daydreaming.

Most important thing is shoes, obviously, a comfortable bag, and a good umbrella. And fully charged headphones.
Although it's sometimes really nice to just listen to ambiant sounds.

Make sure you bag is waterproof as well as your clothes.

I had a job a few year’s ago that was around a thirty minute walk. I’d usually put earbuds in and listen to music. Sometimes I’d walk back home and sometimes I’d hop on a bus if it was there (always walked to work though). I didn’t mind it at all and loved that I didn't have to pay train fares or worry about delays anymore.

Walking to work would always be my top preference as a commute to work.

Agree.

Also in the morning, unless you walk from 5 to 6am, you can generally experience the sunrise during the walk. It sounds basic but I found it absolutely glorious for my mental wellbeing.
And despite the UK not being the most sun-drenched country in the world, winter mornings are often sunny (and then it gets all wrong from 10am). At least in the SE.

Im jealous now!

I think it’s fine as long as you have options for if you feel crappy or the weather is really bad
My work is 5.5 miles away, a colleague lives on the next road to me. He cycles or drives but he has a challenge thing that whenever the football is on (his team) he runs to work
If he runs to work then he gets a lift home from me or his wife will pick him up

For me this would be fine if it was flat / pleasant and I didn't have loads to carry. I hate dragging my laptop around so if this was an every day thing (are you hybrid working or is this 5 days a week?) I'd invest in great waterproofs and a super comfortable backpack or similar so it's as little faff as possible. I live in a super hilly city so mostly just hate the nonstop hills when walking around. Time wise it's similar to any normal commute and is obviously much less faff than going from bus to bus or waiting around for some other sort of public transport. I think I might quite enjoy it!

My walk is nowhere near as long (20 mins.) but I used to work with a lady in her 60's who walked an hour to and from work every day.

I love walking to work, I changed jobs recently to enable me to do so. It saves me a fortune on petrol money and wear and tear on the car. I am 54 so it also keeps me fit and I feel so much better for it. I never felt that driving to work was stressful (I enjoy driving) but have since realised that it is.

I used to walk 1hr 20 mins to work. I loved it. I arrived at work feeling energised every day. Invest in good wet weather gear for the less clement days!

I have a 40/45 minute walk to work. Nice walk most of the time but I do get the bus when the weather is horrendous!

I walk to work every day, takes 45 minutes. Unfortunately all uphill on the way there, it's tiring to begin with but you get used to it, having good shoes is an absolute must.

It's only really miserable when the weather is bad or during a major heatwave. I leave the house at 0430 so i don't have the sun on me but it's still uncomfortable when it's warm.

I have a long walk and really enjoy it. Make sure you have decent waterproof goretex shoes and a decent long waterproof coat (something like Seasalt Janelle) and a fully waterproof rucksack (I have a LOMO) and you will be fine. Iike walking in the winter and the summer and it's not icy very often here.

I used to have a 40 minute commute each way, I lived on my own, and it was a nice way of starting and finishing the day - it was a pretty walk too. It wasn't every day, some days I needed the car for work - but I liked it on the days I didn't.

Now I walk 20 minutes in and 20 minutes back home - not quite short enough to go home for lunch, but long enough to be a very pleasant alternative to driving.

I have done this for years. It is brilliant for weight loss and underlying fitness. Get a decent waterproof coat. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your shoes wear out,

You get used to this kind of thing really quickly.

I used to do 45 mins (uphill in the morning, downhill at night, fortunately).

Then 35 mins each way (flat).

Now I do 30 mins to school, drop off, then either 15 mins to work or 25 mins home again if WFH. (Uphill and downhill both directions, sadly!)

I don't think I've ever had to do it in the dark in the mornings, as it's usually at least getting light by 8ish when I leave. Dark afternoons can be a pain, it's true. It's good to have a bus route available if needed. Waterproof bag covers are good - I have a hi-vis one designed for cyclists which has elastic to go round. I make sure my work shoes are waterproof and fixed up at Timpsons to prevent wet feet!

Icy or snowy weather is the only big difficulty, but then driving in snow is hard too, and if it's bad enough to affect walking then people in cars will be stuck too.

The first few weeks of a longer / steeper commute I find I feel tired, but then it just feels normal.

I would be tempted to consider if it's possible to get a bicycle - not for every day necessarily, but just because sometimes you don't have the time to add 1hr 40 to your work day. By bike it would probably only take about 15 mins, so worth considering if it's not too hilly.

I have a half hour walk to work which is perfect. When the weather is bad I’d still rather be walking with waterproofs on than be sitting in traffic and being late. I might find 50 mins a bit of a challenge everyday tho, but you won’t half be fit!

I'm really hoping it will make me mentally and physically fit- I would never walk for fun, it has to be for a purpose so hopefully this will work!

Is you job sedentary? If you are an office worker then it should be fine but if you have a job where you are on your feet all day it might be fine.
Do you have a desk or locker in work where you could leave things for the week rather than lugging them back and forth?

I won't have too much to carry luckily and I have a secure place at work to keep stuff. I must live In a very weather moderate place as I can't remember the last time we had any extreme weather

I often walk an hour home but I think I’d find there and back a bit much and would cycle in sometimes if it’s cycle-able

Sounds lovely! I used to walk an hour and 20mins to work, I could have taken public transport but it's just so nice to get fresh air and get walking, so many podcasts to listen to!

Buy a decent thermos and take yourself a hot drink in it daily.

thinking the £3/4 a day you’ll save. What could you’d wind that £80 a month on? Or that £920 a year?

I have a 45 minute walk and really enjoy it, both morning and coming home. I have a bus option too but have been on the bus about twice in the last 6 months - fresh air and exercise always wins out over a packed germ filled bus! I'm definitely fitter for it and use the time to listen to podcasts or audio books so think I benefit mentally as well! Comfy shoes and backpack are essential.

I've budgeted for it. I hate the taste of tea or coffee in a travel mug or thermos. It always tastes different to me

I WFH now but commuted on foot for up to an hour/3 miles for many years. I loved it and like others have said, icy weather is the only one that can really stop you.

My tip for you is get a coat with a decent hood rather than relying on an umbrella. And don't let bad weather put you off. The first few minutes can be pretty grim if the weather is really bad but then it levels off. It's better to just have the mindset that you're walking and that's that.