Reply to: Long commutes - coping with

[unixman]

Anything over an hour, I tend to stay locally, if only a couple of days a week. Treat yourself to a couple of nights in the local Premier Inn. More if further away.

Timeshifting works well if the client is okay with it. At my gig I leave home 9:00, arrive 10:00. Work late then pop into the local gym (what else is there to do, right?), stay locally and build up hours to leave early on Friday.

My current route consists largely of the M1, in the variable speed limit section. I find the 60 MPH limit is quite pleasant, as everyone seems to stick to it. Cruise control helps, as does Radio 2, Radio 5, USB music. Radio 4 is okay until the interminable PC dribble becomes too much. Steering wheel radio controls help.

[GlenW]

I used to listen to R4 but it is a wind up and raises stress levels when driving. I recommend Classic FM in the morning and R4 for driving home.

Speaking from 10+ years of commuting 1hr+ a day.

In the morning I listen to Radio 4 until some pr1ck of a politician starts to annoy me then I switch to Smooth FM for a bit. On my way home it is Smooth FM all the time, I can't stand that Eddie Mair prat on PM.

[mankyspanky]

I used to drive 95 miles each way, about 1.5-2 hours, 5 days a week. Then that changed to a different site 20 miles further, but only 3 days a week. Worst commute was to Bristol as that involved a 1.5 hour drive followed by catching a train into the centre, every day.

I found 2 hours is the limit. That's where I'm too knackered to do anything. 1 hour is fine. Current permie job is 30-45 minutes, no problem. Also driving is much more tiring when you have to do it in the dark; so much easier in summer.

I tend to have gigs miles away just as winter starts! :-(

[mankyspanky]

Aye. Reckon I need to chill a bit driving. Find trying to bomb it at 80+ gets stressful....

[d000hg]

its a decent paid gig - Its time like this I think sod the dosh, let me just work 4 days then!

So do that then!

[VectraMan]

I used to drive 95 miles each way, about 1.5-2 hours, 5 days a week. Then that changed to a different site 20 miles further, but only 3 days a week. Worst commute was to Bristol as that involved a 1.5 hour drive followed by catching a train into the centre, every day.

I found 2 hours is the limit. That's where I'm too knackered to do anything. 1 hour is fine. Current permie job is 30-45 minutes, no problem. Also driving is much more tiring when you have to do it in the dark; so much easier in summer.

[mankyspanky]

1hr plus driving each way just knackers me though. I dunno what it is.
A 10-11 hr day including 2-3 hrs driving is a killer. I get home and Im fit for bugger all.

Also, by the time I get home, have something to eat, play with the kids etc. I end up going to bed about midnight and then up again at 630 which is probably not enough sleep.

By the weekend, Im screwed.....

Now 4 days a week would be nice. One day to recover for the weekend :-)

[Eirikur]

60 miles is quite average for me, current contract is at 62 miles, 1h20 on a good day 1h45 on a bad day. Most of my contracts are that sort of distance.
Car always has the preference above public transport, except if it would be central London or Birmingham, which are the only two exceptions for me where I would take the train

[filthy1980]

since we're playing the "longest commute" game i thought i'd throw in mine from 5 years back

bham to london 120 miles one way door to door mon-fri, kept it up for about a year

the audiobooks is a great shout, scrolled my way through a ton of books and there are far more available now then there were 5 years ago

i would also recommend podcasts, BeyondPod is a great app you'll find a host of stuff that takes your interest

[MyUserName]

I spend about 45 minutes in the car each way if the traffic is good. The best thing I ever did was decided to just relax and enjoy the personal time, I do not try to shave minutes off by aggressive driving as that stresses me out. I listen to audiobooks and alternate a fiction one with a fact based one each time. Currently I am about to start book 7 of Skullduggery and am listening to a modern scholar course on master pieces of classical music.

[BolshieBastard]

So do you get used to?

Started a gig a few weeks ago. 60 miles each way so 1 hr-1.15 on a good day to drive. Or 90 mins door to door on the train.
Driving is a lot less hassle and a bit quicker but its knackering me out.

Do you get used to it? Im not as young as I used to be but this is doing me in. Of course, could get train and have once or twice but its hassle.

60 miles? Is that all? I used to do 80 each way. I even did Leeds which was 93 each way. From where I live, my normal average was 55 miles each way.

Man up. Alternatively stop over one or two nights a week.

[Halo Jones]

It depends on what you are used to, my average commute is 65mins in the am & 90 in the eve.

The 90 min is probably the most I would want to do on a regular basis, but ultimately I go where the sites are.

Public transport normally does not go where I want & I get a car allowance so its drive all the way.

[MarillionFan]

My commute is 2000+ kms, 7 hours, door to door. Provided there's not ATR strike, computer failure, fog, snow, problem with a plane or plane just being late. Then it can be anywhere up to 24 hours one way.
I only do it 2-4 times a month, but please stop whining.
I think at least a million people in UK endure the commute as long as what you described.

Pah. 2000k. You were lucky.

I have to commute 12000 miles a month. 16 hours door to door twice a month with a full 8 hours timezone difference.

[TykeMerc]

Commuting by car in any big city is a pain, London even worse than most.

An hour is as long as I will regularly commute, I prefer to stay over a few days or all week, but my sons are all grown up and being away is no hassle to me.

[BrilloPad]

Commutes in London tend to be short in distance but long in time. Which is why cycling is a good idea.