How Does a Long Commute Affect You?

chops018

If you have to endure a long commute like myself, how does it affect you?

For me, I get the train at 7.30, get to the station around 8.00, get a bus around 8.10, and I'm in work around 8.40. (start time is actually 9.00 but the later trains would make me late).

The way home is a bit longer and different. I finish at 17.15 and I walk for 20 mins to the LUAS, 8 mins on the LUAS, then train home has more stops than in the morning so it's 40 mins compared to 27 in the morning. Usually arrive home between 18.35 and 19.00 depending on what train I make.

So, in the morning it's around 1 hour and 10 mins. In the evening it's around 1 hour and 20 mins to 1 hour and 30 mins.

This month I've noticed I'm getting sick very easily - colds that cure but come back, basically not going away.

I've a feeling the long commute doesn't help. I'm hoping once flu season is gone and the weather picks up a bit it will be all grand, because in actual fact this time last year I was working a 50 min drive away and I found I was more tired after the drive than on the train/bus - mainly due to being able to read a book, paper, go on the iPhone.

So, as I already said: how does your commute affect you? How long is it? Do you think you are more prone to flu's, infections, other seasonal illnesses?

The Backwards Man

You're not so bad, you're not even out of the house half a day. :P

chops018

The Backwards Man wrote: »

You're not so bad, you're not even out of the house half a day. :P

Gone 11-12 hours most days is bad enough :P

Why, are you gone more than 12? :eek:

Black_Knight

An hour both ways, but public transport means a can sneak a visit to the pub beforehand if I so please.

Black_Knight

chops018 wrote: »

Gone 11-12 hours most days is bad enough :P

Why, are you gone more than 12? :eek:

He does everything backwards

mickstupp

Mine's about 1.5 hours each way. Much worse if there's traffic problems. Exhausting, and really hard on my back, bus and car seats suck.

I would say I'm far more prone to grumpiness than sickness.

The Backwards Man

chops018 wrote: »

Gone 11-12 hours most days is bad enough :P

Why, are you gone more than 12? :eek:

Some days alright, not regularly now though.

Used to have a 2 hour 15 minute drive to work, ten hour day, and same home, away from 5.45am to 8.15pm. Young and foolish then.

bjork

I cycle about 40 minutes each way. Love the fresh air and I fit in some exercise for the day.

Elvis_Presley

Right now 15 mins door to door, up until three weeks ago 50 mins each way in public transport. I dont know what to do with the extra free time, I need to get hobbies again. Commuting sucks, it absolutely killed me, and the loss of time and energy is such a waste of life.

Teyla Emmagan

I really hate commuting, what a waste of your life. My current job is half an hour away from my house - that's what I like most about it.

Used to have to drive an hour and a half each way. That was when they were building the N11 bypass (bypasses, to be more exact). On a bad day you'd have listened to Eamonn Dunphy's entire 2 hour breakfast show before you got to work. Horrific.

the nikkei is rising

I drive because I'm not a pleb, half hour each way instead of over an hour on public transport.

The Peanut

Used to leave house at 5 for work at 7am. 12hrs til 7 and then back home by 9. Did it for 5 years in my twenties. Did it solely to earn as much money as I could to build where I live.

Could not physically do it now.

errlloyd

I spent 40 minutes waiting for an 84 the other day, the live timer on my phone and on the screen said it was coming. Time passes nothing happens. I walked over to the bus stop (I had been away cause there was no shelter) and it had a note saying it was being bypasses. 50 minutes till the next bus. I wanted to punch a wall.

There are tangible links between commute distance and depression. All that wastes time.

chops018

the nikkei is rising wrote: »

I drive because I'm not a pleb, half hour each way instead of over an hour on public transport.

If I decided to drive rather than take the train, to pay for parking, petrol and wear and tear on the car it would actually be double what I pay for commuting now.

Not only that but it works out the same in travel time as I tried it once or twice.

eviltwin

I used to leave the house at 7:30am and would home 7:30pm Monday to Friday. Had a young child at the time and it was no life.

45-60 mins on a comfy bus usually have a nap each way, it's great

The Backwards Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo

I walk five minutes down a tree lined path beside a landscaped garden.


Sorry.

Frigga_92

I commuted from Waterford train station to Dublin every week day for 4 months and it was horrible.
At the time I was working on contract in Dublin and I knew my contract would be bring me up to Christmas so I figured I'd see it out. My husband needed help with his dad so that's why I moved down.

I was on great money at the time but no time to spend it and now I'm on only okay money and plenty of time to spare. Typical.

I used to get up at 4:50am and get myself ready, too early for breakfast so it was just wash and dress and go. Leave for the train station at around 5:30am, get into train station at around 5:50am and get on train. The train left at 6am and later it was changed to 6:10am. The train was late pretty much everyday by between 5 and 20 minutes which meant I would then miss the 145 which left me off outside where i worked. I then started cycling from the train station to my workplace and then back in the evenings. This was great for keeping my weight in check but I was always exhausted.
I used to finish work at 5:30pm and race to Hueston for the 6:35pm train home. This was supposed to get in at 9pm but was always late by between 10 and 30 minutes. I would get home any time between 9:30pm and 10pm and then had to be in bed by 11pm so realistically I was only getting about an hour and a half at home where I was awake and only getting about 6 hours sleep a night.

For the first month or so my diet was okay but slowly the coffee and croissant once or twice a week became every morning as the tiredness started to get on top of me. I used to have my dinner at lunchtime because it was too late to eat dinner when i got home and again the dinners started out good but eventually chips started to creep in and I recall even eating burger king for lunch a few times :eek:
When I was on the train in the morning i could sleep, most people were sleeping so it tended to be quiet but the evenings were a nightmare sometimes, you could end up surrounded by school tours or people on hens or stags so it was more difficult to sleep so instead I used to read (silver lining I did read an awful lot of books during those months which was lovely) and eat, usually a coffee (I'd be wrecked) and a chocolate bar.

I suppose the worst thing affected was diet, just constantly reaching for something to eat to make the day a bit easier and make myself feel a bit better.
And the other thing was having no time during the week to do anything other than travel and work so the weekends were jam packed which meant that come Monday morning I'd be exhausted from the weekend. Vicious cycle.

When I was doing that commute it was the year we had the first really heavy snowfall, the end of 2010. There was days during those couple of weeks when the train didn't pull into Waterford until 10:30pm or I'd arrive at the station in the morning to be told it was bus transfers to Kilkenny or there was no bus transfers at all. I somehow managed to never miss a day but the place I was working for gave me a lot of hassle during those weeks, yet there was people living in Tallaght who didn't bother getting into work and I was after travelling half the length of the country for no thanks.

Now, my commute is lovely. It takes 17 minutes on my motorbike on main roads so never really affected by bad weather. I drive the bike all year round and it's lovely to have the freedom compared to the trains, buses, bicycles, taxis etc.

eet fuk

10 minute cycle or 30 minute walk.

Recently moved into town (Dublin) primarily to avoid public transport, and for me it is totally worth the higher rent. Extra1-2 hours per day to myself, no bus fares, no smelly disease riddled passengers coughing and spluttering all over me in winter. Mmmmmm, love it.

Ray Palmer

Apparently for ever 20 minutes you commute you loose an hour of personal life. Can't remember the study but you can be sure the longer your commute is the more unhappy you become.
I would never take a job that was a longer commute than 1 hour.
I used to work with a guy who loved his car and would go on about how he got from Bettystown to work in an hour. I passed him every day on my cycle to work at the point it took me about 20 minutes to get to work. I'd have a shower get to my desk and then he would arrive at his desk about 20 minutes afterwards. Used to go on about how he would never cycle because he wasn't a child and stopped playing with toys.
He used to go on about how I was crazy to have bought a house in Dublin and how he so smart because it was only an hour to work. Eventually I just couldn't put up with his sh*te after a while and explained to him how full of it he was. He did out all these sums showing how he was doing better than me financially as a result of his genius. I looked and laughed at him. He made the most outrageous claims such as his car cost him €20 a week (petrol,insurance and maintenance) and his commute was still down as 1 hour. He would not budge on his claims, for a week I would wave when I passed him on my way to work and look at my clock to see the time. He then eventually admitted his journey took him longer but some how much faster going home:rolleyes: I have met a few like him and generally all I can gather is people don't want to actually admit how long their commute is

lazeedaisy

I used to commute 3 1/2 hours every day for years.

Left the house at 5.30, home by 5.

Never had any adverse effects, never sick, went through audio cd books by the tonne,

It never bothered me, but everyone else used to be bothered by it,

My boss would always hint at it, or others could not understand the length of it, but being home by 5 every day, not many people could boast that.

Dont miss it since I stopped, but to be honest the only adverse effect was snow or really bad weather, which lengthened the mornng commute, I was up and out in 7 mins flat.

Lia_lia

Mine is grand. I either get the bus or walk. Bus takes anything between 15 and 25 mins, depending on traffic/number of stops. If it isn't raining I'll usually walk. It's about 30 mins, but it's all uphill. A very steep hill! The walk home is a lot faster.

The longest commute I ever had was a 20 minute walk and 30 minute train journey. So never had it that bad..

boardie100

commute is 45 mins to an hour but I work one day at home so it helps a lot... weather like tonight's breaks my heart driving the m50... I honestly think more than an hour is too much and would affect my mood... id prefer public transport to driving anyday

Sugar Free

30 mins from closing the front door at home to sitting down at work but only if I leave before 0745 at the latest.

I drive to work which I imagine reduces the risk of infection more so than the length of the commute.

Penny Tration

Average work day for me -

Leave house at 7.30am. Walk to bus stop, get a bus anywhere between 7.45 and 8.00am.

Get off bus at 9am-ish. Get another bus. Get off other bus. WWalk for 10 minutes. Arrive in work at 10am.

Finish work at 7, opposite route home, usually get home between 9-9.30pm.

Depending on the day, I'm out of the house for anywhere between 12-14 hours.

It's grand. I get a bit tired, and can't do much on consecutive work days, but no hassle really.

heldel00

Reading this thread is really giving me the kick up the bum I need.
20mins to work, 20mins home. Have plenty of time to get up off my backside and get myself a hobby or get out for a walk or something.
Fair play to you all. Some of these commutes you are talking about are no joke.

Just out of curiosity, is any of your commutes going to be a long term thing (earn as much as you can/ work your way towards promotion) or is there light at end of the tunnel (new job? Shorter commute?)

boardie100

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

Average work day for me -

Leave house at 7.30am. Walk to bus stop, get a bus anywhere between 7.45 and 8.00am.

Get off bus at 9am-ish. Get another bus. Get off other bus. WWalk for 10 minutes. Arrive in work at 10am.

Finish work at 7, opposite route home, usually get home between 9-9.30pm.

Depending on the day, I'm out of the house for anywhere between 12-14 hours.

It's grand. I get a bit tired, and can't do much on consecutive work days, but no hassle really.

that's a very long day... dunno.if I could hack that

Penny Tration

boardie100 wrote: »

that's a very long day... dunno.if I could hack that

I'm actually grand with it. I jacked in a job 10 minutes from my house for this one, which is essentially the same job, just a better title and pay

Penny Tration

heldel00 wrote: »

Reading this thread is really giving me the kick up the bum I need.
20mins to work, 20mins home. Have plenty of time to get up off my backside and get myself a hobby or get out for a walk or something.
Fair play to you all. Some of these commutes you are talking about are no joke.

Just out of curiosity, is any of your commutes going to be a long term thing (earn as much as you can/ work your way towards promotion) or is there light at end of the tunnel (new job? Shorter commute?)

My commute is gonna be a relatively long term thing. I worked my way up to this place. Crap job, but decent wages compared to the last place, and a much better title. Can't go any further up in the company.

namloc1980

2 min drive to the station, 16 mins on the train and then 13 min walk to the office. Same in reverse in the evening.

Heisenberg1

30mins Cycle from front door to work or 15min walk and 25 mins on the train love using the bike but on days like today walk and train is what I use same times going home.

Cookie_Monster

My commute is about 10-12 mins on the bike. My previous commutes were about the same, or never more than 20 mins in the car. Longest was bus to college which was over an hour. I do my utmost to avoid long commutes, there no great waste of time and money IMO. If I found a brilliant job a long travel time/distance away it would either be a case of moving or turning it down.

The only way I'd happily extend my commute is on the bike and just make it part of training, but a workplace with a shower becomes a must then.

_Kaiser_

Previously I had a 90 minute drive each way - wasn't too bad as it was 90% motorway. These days though it's a 10 minute spin up the road. I am usually in before 8 to avoid traffic, but generally home before 5

Desolation Of Smug

When I was working on the buildings in Dublin, I left the house at 5-5.30am to be in for 6.45/7 and got home around 8-8.30pm. I did that for a good number of years and it exhausts you totally. No life apart from work and I wouldn't do it again, nor would I repeat the experience if given a second go at it. Crock of sh1t.

Sugar Free

heldel00 wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, is any of your commutes going to be a long term thing (earn as much as you can/ work your way towards promotion) or is there light at end of the tunnel (new job? Shorter commute?)

My short commute is offset by the fact I'm rarely home before 1900 :pac:

jobeenfitz

I used to drive from Longford to Dublin before the motorways were built. Approx 2 hours drive each way to work then 20 min walk from quays to work. It was a nightmare. I used to put on very loud music, open windows and shout at myself to prevent myself from sleeping.

Don't know how I survived it. I was eating on the go and getting home about an hour before bed time. If I had to do that again I would just go on the dole. Its not living. I now drive into Galway from Athenry in about 30 mins, cos I leave after the morning rush is over.

15 to 20 minute walk to work for me. Usually leave the house between 9 and 9:30.

I plan to settle down back at home or in my home area at the very least though at some point and in order to do that Id be willing to put up with a fairly long commute. Much longer than if I was living elsewhere anyway.

nomeban

15 minutes drive each way.

Out of bed around 8.30am. Brush teeth, coffee in the travel mug, into the car at 8:45. At work around 9.

Oh and I also put clothes on.

Gael23

I do a 200 mile round trip twice a week for a medical treatment. I'm exhausted that night but other than thst it doesn't bother me a lot

looking_around

I can't stand long commutes or long work weeks. (tend to prefer part time hours.) get seriously depressed the less "home" time I have.

anncoates

20 to 25 minute drive each way normally,

duckcfc

chops018 wrote: »

If you have to endure a long commute like myself, how does it affect you?

For me, I get the train at 7.30, get to the station around 8.00, get a bus around 8.10, and I'm in work around 8.40. (start time is actually 9.00 but the later trains would make me late).

The way home is a bit longer and different. I finish at 17.15 and I walk for 20 mins to the LUAS, 8 mins on the LUAS, then train home has more stops than in the morning so it's 40 mins compared to 27 in the morning. Usually arrive home between 18.35 and 19.00 depending on what train I make.

So, in the morning it's around 1 hour and 10 mins. In the evening it's around 1 hour and 20 mins to 1 hour and 30 mins.

This month I've noticed I'm getting sick very easily - colds that cure but come back, basically not going away.

I've a feeling the long commute doesn't help. I'm hoping once flu season is gone and the weather picks up a bit it will be all grand, because in actual fact this time last year I was working a 50 min drive away and I found I was more tired after the drive than on the train/bus - mainly due to being able to read a book, paper, go on the iPhone.

So, as I already said: how does your commute affect you? How long is it? Do you think you are more prone to flu's, infections, other seasonal illnesses?

What a miserable f***king life! Your life is for living so do yourself a favour and live it.

Me, my commute is get out of bed about 9ish, stroll into kitchen and make something to eat while relaxing on the net for awhile. Go take a sh1t then decided if I should go to work or not. If I do go to work, I work till 5 or 6 then drive home for nice relaxing night. Furthest I've worked is 40mins away.

For the record, I live on west coast and work as a handyman/builder. Pays well

Trebor176

My commute is only around 10-15 minutes with little or no traffic. Lately, though, it's taking twice that, due to an increase in traffic. I am quite pissed off with the volume, to be honest. It's just something I am going to have to continue to endure, unless I decide to start work an hour early, which ain't gonna happen!

I used to commute to and from town. While the journey was longer, either by bus or LUAS, I never minded it. Though, I always hated the crowds on the LUAS. It's great getting a seat and just watching the world go by. It's less stressful than being stuck behind the wheel in gridlocked traffic getting more and more fed up.

I do feel sorry for anybody having to endure a lengthy commute, and especially the poor souls that have to spend over an hour from one end of the M50 to the other in the mornings and evenings, if they do work further down the motorway.

TheBeardedLady

I spend about 75 years a day on Madrid metro commuting between classes but try to walk as much as I can. I fooking hate it but try to use the time productively by staring off into space and rummaging around in my handbag.

pharmaton

TheBeardedLady wrote: »

I spend about 75 years a day on Madrid metro commuting between classes but try to walk as much as I can. I fooking hate it but try to use the time productively by staring off into space and rummaging around in my handbag.

wait what?

20min walk door to door. In the winter I've hopped on the bus for the spin as it's dark in the mornings or crappy weather. I would miss not being able to walk to work if I had to do it long term though. Can't imagine having to commute for more than an hour.

chops018

duckcfc wrote: »

What a miserable f***king life! Your life is for living so do yourself a favour and live it.

Me, my commute is get out of bed about 9ish, stroll into kitchen and make something to eat while relaxing on the net for awhile. Go take a sh1t then decided if I should go to work or not. If I do go to work, I work till 5 or 6 then drive home for nice relaxing night. Furthest I've worked is 40mins away.

For the record, I live on west coast and work as a handyman/builder. Pays well

I understand what you are saying, and indeed commuting is not nice.

But you have to understand that if I decided to work near home then I'd have to get a job working in the local petrol station or in a clothes shop in the town shopping centre.

All the jobs with my degree and masters are in Dublin. And no, my salary is not enough to move closer to work.

We don't all have the benefit of, or didn't all choose the career you did, and are able to get up around 9 and decide if you want to work or not.

TheBeardedLady

pharmaton wrote: »

wait what?

You heard!

hmmm

I love reading, and 2 hours commuting every day gives me loads of time to do that - so that's a plus. The downside is the small minority of fellow public transport passengers who don't give a damn about anyone else, and talk loudly on their phone/play music out loud/eat greasy smelly food/try and squash in on top of you.

pharmaton

TheBeardedLady wrote: »

You heard!

someone should learn them Madridians about the diesel engine, makes trains go faster/

I really only noticed in the last year or so how relatively easy it is to commute to work in Ireland though,my daughter used travel to Kilkenny by train each day and would be there in about half an hour, which is not much longer than it would take me to walk the 2k to work.

Streetwalker

Used to do it in about an hour in the car two years ago then up until two weeks ago it took an hour and 35 minutes in and about an hour and 45 home. Been off for last two weeks with bad back because of it car seat is a joke and the physio bills are killing me. Think i'll be jacking it in when my four weeks paid sick are up and signing on as I can only see the traffic getting worse.