Is a 1.5 hour commute (each way) doable twice a week?

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Orient666@reddit

Can you stay in a hotel room for a night and do two days in office back to back?

Well worth it.

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BVOP83@reddit

I used to do it 5 days a week and it was miserable. 2 days a week though, definitely manageable (if the pay is worth it ofc)

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truckosaurus_UK@reddit

Twice a week isn't so bad. There's no mention of a finish time. If starting at 0730 means you can be out the door at 1630-1700 and home by 6 or 7pm then you still get a decent evening on those days.

A key point is whether the driving is on A-roads with plenty of alternate routes or one long motorway leg where you will be stuck for ages if there's an incident.

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International_Body44@reddit

Depends how much I'm earning...

Personally not a chance unless your earning over 6 figures.

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I did it for 3 years. The first year was 5 days a week just over 2 hours each way.... It was fine, if you have nothing worth getting home for. Mine was o the train so I could sleep for some of it. But as soon as you have something worth being at home for.... it'll be the bane of your life

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rawpaprika@reddit

Doing it only twice a week is doable but you’ve got to think about the bigger picture. If you’re leaving at 5:30 you’re gonna be exhausted and not have a great work life balance. Also think about what it’s gonna be like in the winter when it’s cold and dark. Having to scrape your car at 5am and then driving 2 hours in the dark doesn’t sound fun to me

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NixKTM@reddit

If you want the job then yes, i used to have just over an hours drive each way whilst doing 12 hour shifts.

Wouldn't recommend it though

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notemark@reddit

I used to do a 1:20 commute each way when I started my current job (hour and twenty minutes), got this down to 1:05 when I figured out walking was quicker than trying to negotiate two buses for the sake of 3 miles.

Did that 5 days a week for 8 years until I finally learned to drive and while I miss the walking from a fitness perspective I have a family so the 15 minute drive means I get to spend more time with them.

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quartersessions@reddit

Twice a week? Yep, fine. I've known people doing that five times a week in the past - which would probably be a bit much.

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La_Pooks@reddit

I do it 5 days at the moment, have done for nearly a decade.

First year sucked, after that I’ve chalked it up as just one of those things. Could always be worse.

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MilkMyCats@reddit

My mate does it 4 times a week.

He enjoys it. Mainly because he prefers podcasts to his wife and kids!

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NoFewSatan@reddit

That's sad

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blahblahblah1234_@reddit

Wow, that’s a bit of shit of him tbf.

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Particular_Good_8682@reddit

I hear it so much it's crazy, my old store manager said she didn't mine the 2.5 hour round trip daily because it gave her a break from family and kids 😂

And everyone is trying to force kids on people then talk about there own like that lol

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Altruistic_Cress_700@reddit

Yup. I had a colleague who commuted from Dartford to Leicester every day for years.

That's 4-5 hrs of driving every single day. He did sixty plus thousand miles a year.

He said he liked to sleep in his own bed every night. The rest of us on the project thought he was mad. But he did it and always did.

He even did return trips to Leeds from Dartford three times a week for a period. Even he found that hard work.

Late 90s early 2000s, before remote working was viable.

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quartersessions@reddit

I suppose people just get on with it. That being said, you'd think if you lived in Dartford there'd be jobs you could find a bit closer-by...

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Altruistic_Cress_700@reddit

He was a specialist in a particular software tool that was implemented in different parts of the country. And well paid for it and with a DB pension. So he didn't want to move...

Complex reasons, but the commute didn't seem to bother him particularly. But I couldn't do it at age 50 like he was.

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ViscountGris@reddit

Hey! I’m nearly 50. And I’ve been up since 6am being active and getting all sorts of stuff now. Actually, I’m feeling pretty tired now. Fair point.

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if-land2021@reddit

I do it 3 times a week. It's fine for me to do for a year as a career progression move, but I don't intend to do it longer than that!

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Puttz2590@reddit

Used to do this. Up at 5am, out the door by 5:30, train into London, tube to Brixton, bus to Streatham and into the office for 8:00am. Leave at 4:00, home by about 7pm. Sometimes 8pm/9pm due to traffic and train delays.

I had to do that 5 days a week for my first 6 months then I was able to WFH twice a week (this was pre COVID days).

Just put music on and read a book. Used to get through them so quickly.

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vijjer@reddit

That sort of commute time is perfect to get through long-form podcast content. Paired with the right car, you'll end up looking forward to your drive in and back.

I hope you do accept the offer (presuming everything else checks out) and come back with an update post telling us how much you love it.

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Mispelt_Usenrame@reddit

I have to be at work in London most days for 9.00am

Due to train times, I have to catch one from my local station around 7.20, so leave home at 7.00

It's completely fine, you get used to it. If you're driving, get into listening to audio books as it feels more like leisure time that way.

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gameofgroans_@reddit

How were you listening to audio books? Just started a similar commute and getting into books but not sure if audible is best or somewhere else etc

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BenitoBro@reddit

I use audible, your paying £7.99 a book. Books being around 20 hours long I'd say on average. So can gauge whether that's worth it for you, I probably get through 2 books a month

Never had an issue refunding a crap book either, no idea what the time frame is but I've gotten 2 hours into some and the narrator was so bad I couldn't stand it. So it takes out some of the decision paralysis on what new book to start

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jeminar@reddit

Subscription to audible allows extra books for about £4 each

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Sehs@reddit

Spotify has tons

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unusual-umbrella@reddit

Check if your local library has audiobooks. I can get them via the Libby app, new and popular ones tend to have a waitlist but there's loads of stuff you can download immediately for free.

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Mispelt_Usenrame@reddit

I do use audible sometimes. If you have Prime, you can now get a free audio book and swap it like once a month I think.

I also use BorrowBox which is supplied by my local library. Has loads of audio books on there I can access for free.

Also, try podcasts. There are loads of genres out there to listen to. I got really into true crime podcasts (check out "My Favourite Murder") or anything that takes your fancy.

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HankHippopopolous@reddit

I did a similar commute into London in the past and absolutely hated it.

By the time I’d get home I had no energy left to do anything. I’d make some dinner have maybe an hour to chill before going to bed and doing it all again. Then the weekends just felt like recovery time instead of time where I could do things.

I now have a job which is a 15 minute commute and am so much happier. I still work the same amount but getting back those extra 3-4 hours a day I used to waste commuting gives me time to chill, to get everything done, to take up hobbies and then the weekends I feel like I have the energy again to want to do things not just recover.

Unless I had no choice I would never go back to doing that sort of commute daily.

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Mispelt_Usenrame@reddit

Yeah, I totally get the loss of hours part.

Luckily for me, it's only temporary as it's to do with my training for a new career. I use the time on the train to revise and work on knowledge I've been learning etc.

Once I finish this part, I drop to a 30min commute so will gain at least a couple of hours back each day.

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Particular_Good_8682@reddit

Couldn't imagine wasting 3/4 hours of my life a day, fuck that

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ParticulateSplatter@reddit

Everyone's different. I do it because London is where the well paid jobs in my field are, but living outside London means I can own my own house with a garden in a nice area, and when I am at home I get to enjoy the countryside.

If I want to do something in London, it's right there. Easy enough on the train, or I can see friends after work.

It's kind of like having the best of both worlds - that's what the additional travel time is buying you. Tradeoff will be considered worth it for some, not worth it for others.

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Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit

It's not so much the commute but how knackered you'll be on those days. Leaving around 5.30 presumably means an alarm at what 4.45am? You likely won't sleep well the night before either knowing you have to be up. I have a colleague that was flying into the UK every couple of months and although it was only a short flight and she was getting into the office for just before 10am, she always said she was basically useless that first day.

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w-anchor-emoji@reddit

I've tried to do Glasgow from Bristol as a day trip before, i.e., get the early flight at like 7 am, then take the late flight back. I've started to just ask them to put me up for the night beforehand, because I was completely non-functional on those days. I just don't handle a 4-5 am wake up, partially because I get anxious about it the night before and sleep very poorly.

I don't think I could do what OP is suggesting.

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OrganicPoet1823@reddit

I’ve done loads of day trips furtherest was Marrakesh I was knackered the next day though

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OrganicPoet1823@reddit

Used to do it everyday before Covid

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must-be-thursday@reddit

A few years ago I had a job that I had a similar length commute for, 5 days a week. On any given day, it was OK. The drive itself was fine - I just listened to podcasts/audiobooks, and it was a similar fairly scenic, easy route.

However, the big downside was that it left basically no time for for anything else - no socializing, no sports, no hobbies. Had about an hour or so chill time in the evenings, but that was pretty much it. So having that everyday sucked. Two days a week though? Probably manageable.

The other thing to consider is travel costs will add up, especially with current petrol/diesel prices.

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PsychologySpecific16@reddit

Twice a week? Easy, I do more than that now.

I used to do 1 hour 20 commutes every day. That does get old really quickly though, especially in city traffic.

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interestingcheeses@reddit

My partner does a 2.5 hour drive each way two times a week, so 5 hours of driving per day that he does it. Its not ideal but he manages ok.

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SpudFire@reddit

Mine is half that twice a week and I feel that is enough. I'd probably be more willing to do longer if I was using public transport instead of driving because I could switch off and read, do puzzles etc.

If you do decide to do it, I'd suggest sticking to a similar working day when at home. Do some exercise in the morning before work instead of the commute. Waking up early 2 days and then having an extra couple of hours in bed the other 3 would probably mess up your sleeping pattern, so you'd feel less rested on those 2 office days. Get into the habit of having the same bedtime and similar alarm clock and it won't feel half as bad.

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Ok_Transition_3601@reddit

Of course

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Woozybumba89@reddit

I do it, it's not too bad.

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Top-Car-808@reddit

I reckon you need to calculate on a weekly basis. What is your total weekly commute time? and go from there.

Another top tip - the commute that takes 1.5 hours which starts at 6am....yeah, that is never goign to be a 1.5 hour commute at the end of a day. Never. Traffic.

I would actually drive those routes at the time you will drive them before making a decision. Are you in UK? do you have a diesel car?

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walkthelands@reddit

have done 2+ hours 5 days a week for around 4 years.....its fine...and it sounds like your commute is a nice one...i had to do it on the london underground north east edge of the network all the way to southwest of the network...wasn't fun on hot days!

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CatchPersonal7182@reddit

When I first got my job, it was everyday for me.

It was a goddamn single road as well!

Just find a good podcast and listen to it

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dasmarron@reddit

Absolutely!

I had a 5-20 minute walk for 6.5 years (I moved a lot around the same town during this time) and in March started a job with a 1.5 hour commute each way, going in two times a week on average.

Find it absolutely fine so far - started at the right time of year as I imagine it will be a bit grim in the winter as it's 50% train / 50% walking for me.

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JoeyJoJoeJr_Shabadoo@reddit

I do it. I don't like it, but I do it.

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yorkspirate@reddit

I've done this daily for months in the past. it was quite easy for me as I'm an early riser anyway, the roads are pretty much empty at 5am and the pay was worth it. Sometimes taking over 2hours to get home wasn't great but I'd do it again if needed

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East_Slide7680@reddit

2 hours x4 = 8hrs/wk, or equivalent to a normal working day for most people. That’s an extra 1/5th of work week in commuting.

I personally wouldn’t do it unless this specific job is getting me an extra 1k/mth take home at least. And even then I’d seriously consider if it’s worth it…

I often work 13hr+ shifts which is roughly a normal working day + 4hr commute, and it writes off the entire day. Get up early, cram breakfast, into work, and by the time I’m home and have cooked and eaten I’ll have an hour or so before I have to sleep. It has a significant impact on my quality of life and personally wouldn’t recommend unless you love your job (I love being at work but it still affects me).

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glup91@reddit

It is doable. I used to do Ashford to London 3 or 4 days a week. Luckily I was driving, as no easy train route, so I enjoyed listening to music/podcasts/audio books on the journey to help the time pass. I stopped doing that journey almost 3 years ago and I couldn't imagine doing it now.

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icefrozenground@reddit

I drive between 1hr 45 mins - 2 hours each way twice a week (although it's 20% rural, 80% dual carriageways and city driving). I've found it fine twice a week, but wouldn't want to be doing it more than three times a week. As long as you're ok with early wake ups, I'd say go for it.

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SeersSky@reddit

I do it five times a week currently. It was okay at first but it does get abit too much, I'm certainly bored of it now! When you've got a clear run (which it sounds like you will) then two days a week should be manageable. A good podcast will make it feel faster.

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teadazed@reddit

I did this and enjoyed it despite chronic migraine for a couple of years until I had a kid. It was a chance to listen to music and enjoy the scenery. Do make sure you look into proactive physio to counter the impact of that much driving/sitting though.

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sampapsi@reddit

Totally doable especially when you use the time when you commute. Podcasts really changed the game for me and I feel like my commute time (1-1.5h) feel more useful.

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Rabbit-1989@reddit

Yep! Just check the cost.

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ThinkBiscuit@reddit

I used to do 2hrs door-to-door 5 times a week (horrible traffic), so I’d say yes – but at the time I was admittedly desperate for a job.

But it’s a personal choice to set the limits you’re comfortable with.

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limitedregrett@reddit

Timewise it will be ok i guess but keep an eye on the cost, peak trains are a certified rip off from some (most) places.

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Head_Priority5152@reddit

I used to do this daily so yes personally dong it twice a week would be fine to me

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Tennonboy@reddit

I know some who do it every day, twice a week is a bo brainer!

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LopsidedGear8017@reddit

I do it 5 days a week. It’s possible! Can be a bit annoying with transport delays but once im on the train, I am happy.

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EffectiveTraining189@reddit

It’s very individual. I do it currently, it isn’t that bad and I actually quite enjoy my commute (it’s scenic and I can just read or get more work done). That said, I feel very isolated from my job - I can never stay for after work drinks or spontaneous meeting up. It’s fine, but I wouldn’t want to do it forever

A lot of people act like I’m insane for doing it. Some people have very strong opinions about other people’s lives, don’t listen to them.

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TooNeuroToBeABot@reddit

Twice a week yes. 5 times it’s a chore

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TheOnlyNadCha@reddit

Twice a week is acceptable. I’ve done this 5x a week for 6 months - never again. Sure you get used to it and you find ways to make this time count by reading books or listening to podcasts... But time is the only resource you can never get back. I would only do this if absolutely necessary and temporary.

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TachiH@reddit

Just add the 6-8 hours to your salary and work out if it is still worth while.

Personally I couldn't imagine throwing that much time away.

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lukusmaca@reddit

I do and it’s fine. My commute is very serene tho. Not a lot of traffic and then an easy, not overly busy train

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Leonichol@reddit

It depends on your attitude.

It is 6hrs of unpaid time. For some that is part of the job and baked into their lifestyle and choices. An acceptable compromise to say live in a specific place or to pursue a particular career. Or perhaps even a mental escape.

For others. It is a pisstake, a calculated but derided cost, and a detriment to the few hours they have left on this Earth. Slowly eating them away from the inside. And so will seek to mitigate asap by say moving house or finding new work.

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jailboundhorse@reddit

A couple of days a week sounds very reasonable, just double check there aren't any plans to increase in office attendance in the future. 4-5 days may become a grind...

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Defiant_Practice5260@reddit

Just see the additional 6 hours per week as work time. What are you worth per hour? Multiply it by 6 and if you're still better off in a new job, then take it.

No, commute time isn't work time, but it is your time and should be adequately compensated by a raise in what you get back from work.

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tubaleiter@reddit

I'm 1.5-2 hours from the office now - not on a fixed on-site schedule, but I do go in relatively frequently. I think twice a week would be fine, three times a week would get annoying, four or more is too much.

Run the numbers for yourself, but it's worth thinking if it makes sense to just get a basic hotel that one night a week, as long as the two-days onsite are back to back. Saves 3-4 hours of driving, HMRC calls it about 55p a mile - if you're 80 miles away, that's £40 per trip, £80 roundtrip (obviously that could be more or less for your car). \~£80 savings plus 3-4 hours of time back, minus the cost of the hotel - roughly break-even. Depends how much you like being home for only slightly longer than you sleep.

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FirmDingo8@reddit

Yes it is, I did it for 6 years before I retired. 20 minute walk to the bus stop then just over an hour on the bus in to Edinburgh. It became the time I could just switch off

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TedBob99@reddit

I used to drive to work 5 days a week and each way could take between 1 and 2 hours depending on traffic, and occasionally much longer in case of accidents etc.

So twice a week is nothing.

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audigex@reddit

Twice a week is doable if you're okay with being up that early in the morning, I wouldn't want to do it every day

An obvious question would be whether it would always be twice a week - many places like hybrid workers to be 100% in-office at least initially and during busy periods or specific events. Doing it 5 days a week even temporarily could get pretty arduous

Also worth checking if you can work flexibly and do slightly shorter days those days so you're not out of the house as long

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ReflexArch@reddit

All fine till you have kids is normally what I find with these.

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NoodleDoodlesocks@reddit

Twice a week wouldn't be a problem. Just make sure to get the proper sleep the night before.

Five days a week would likely leave you with little time for yourself.

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Mango5389@reddit

1.25 hours when traffic is heavy 3x a week. Its doable but it takes a toll on you. Ive been doing it 4 years now but only because the salary is worth it.

I am starting to think to look for something closer if I can minimise wage drop

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tetlee@reddit

I used to do Nottingham to London, 4 hours each way, once a week.

It wasn't that bad but I was allowed to get into the office at 10:30am on that day so I didn't have to pay the premium for train tickets. After work I'd go out for a couple of beers with co-workers so that I could again miss the expensive tickets. Booking the tickets a few weeks in advance (not to early they start expensive) was important. Then I got to spend the time playing on my laptop or reading a book. I also got very good at sleeping sitting up.

It was a long day but ultimately I think worth it, I got to WFH 4 days a week and got a London wage living in Nottingham.

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Stinkinhippy@reddit

i do it 3 times a week.. it's fine.. you just get through it and i don't even think about it so much any more... been like 6 years at this point.

If you're happy to drive for that length of time and happy to put those miles and wear on your car, then I'd say go for it.

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NotAndyBurnham@reddit

Only you can say really. For me only if they pay me an extra 50k a year (and I don’t earn 50k atm). Time doing what you want is priceless.

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Hot-Efficiency7190@reddit

I did 1.5hr each way, 5 days a week for about 8 years, along with few hundred others on the train. Time to read, watch youtube, it's pretty chilled apart from occasional trespassers and strikes.

For 7:30 though? Nah, that would be mad.

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PvtRoom@reddit

depends on who depends on you more than anything else.

a 3 hour round trip only turns an 8hr day into a 11hr day. - possibly debilitating if you're a single parent of 3.

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MyDadsGlassesCase@reddit

I used to leave the house at 06.30 and get to work for 08.00 everyday by train. I would download TV programmes to watch on my phone. No bother at all, however I was in my mid 30s at the time with no kids. Fuck doing that now at 48

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uniquelyRelevant16@reddit

It's doable but it can be exhausting with the yo-yo sleep pattern if you are up around 4/30am twice a week

I used to do 1hr 45min commute to London twice a week from the midlands and you soon get into a routine. It only becomes a mission when trains are always delayed, you are constantly rushing and you are already mentally before stepping into the office

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thelivsterette1@reddit

My commute to uni (sometimes with a 10am start so not quite as bad) was about an hour, closer to 1.5h if traffic, 3 times a week (and last semester/September 2025 3 consecutive days, compared to just Fridays this last semester which just wrapped up) so I'd say it's doable

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doepfersdungeon@reddit

If it's for the right job , absolutely.

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PKblaze@reddit

It's doable but 3-4 hours commute per day would be a hard no from me.

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Toffeemade@reddit

I did 20 miles each way for a 7.30am start. You'll need showers at work, somewhere to store work clothes, shoes, towel, wash kit and a bike with guards, rack, panniers, lights, waterproofs and a puncture kit. Personally I drew the line at cycling in freezing temperatures as I didn't fancy a hip/ pelvis injury. Good luck.

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MahatmaAndhi@reddit

I do that twice a week. I've read a lot of books and caught up on a lot of movies. It's actually quite nice to have that time to do nothing but relax.

For me, though, it's pricy. But the London salary makes it worth while.

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meadowender@reddit

I did Gloucester-ish to Swansea every day for 2 months in 2008 when my employer relocated. 92 miles each way, leaving at 7 to arrive by 9, then back home for 7 pm. I was honestly fine but my employer soon found paying for the fuel got old very quickly. Long term it would have killed the car as well, with a bit of running around at the weekend I was doing 1000 miles per week

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Southern-Orchid-1786@reddit

Used to do this as a combination of car, train and walk. Once you get used to it then it really isn't difficult. Get some podcasts to listen to.

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SeamasterCitizen@reddit

You can do anything two days a week

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FreshMontrealer12@reddit

What’s the distance? Is it 100 miles of constant motorway or just a bit wavy but not over long? Just cause I’ve done 100 mile commutes once a month and the motorway hits harder than a slow but shorter route

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TheRadishBros@reddit

I used to do this 4 times a week; you get used to it.

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Ennochie@reddit

6 hours of commuting a week? But 3 days WFH? That's a doddle!

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Slow_Gate9923@reddit

I used to drive from Suffolk to near Southend 6 days a week for a year. That was 1.5-2 hours each way.

You get used to it, it wasn’t a problem at all. Two days a week will be a breeze for you

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Kitchen_Moose717@reddit

Yep, crack on. London daily commute used to be 1.5 each way 5 days a week, and that was 30 years ago!

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mildly_houseplant@reddit

I do 1.45 in and 2 back four times a week. Helps that I get to read for most of it. It's tough, so you have to know that you have a goal in doing it.

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Any-Republic-4269@reddit

Get a good book/podcast it's fine

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ScottyG1212@reddit

Twice a week is completely reasonable, would be a good way to catch up on podcasts

I once worked with a guy who would take the bus for almost two hours to get to work 4-5 times a week, and this was for a shitty minimum wage retail job.

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EntrepreneurHead7133@reddit

Yep. I do 2 and half hours each way, twice a week. It can be brutal at times but you do get used to it.

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DavidBehave01@reddit

I travel 75 minutes each way twice a week and while it's not ideal, it's fine.

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Midnight7000@reddit

I used to do that 5 times a day. It is easy.

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HuiOnFire@reddit

losing 3 hours a day stacks up quick. I wouldnt do it. twice a week, maybe if the moneys extremely good

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ajhnsn27@reddit

Yes 100%. My commute is about 1.5 hours door to door, do it twice or 3 times a week. It's generally fine, I catch up on podcasts and stuff on my way in and listen to audiobooks if I'm all caught up!

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PastaLover27@reddit

I had an internship for 7 months that required me to commute almost 2 hours each way 3 days a week. So yes. 1.5 hours twice is doable

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-dylpickle@reddit

I mean a lot of people do similar. I go into London once a week stay at parents and commute back next day as I am lucky they live there but I find it hell. Trains are always packed so no real privacy, WiFi barely works half the time and it’s expensive. I also HATE waking up early as I’m a night owl so it really depends on this as well? If your re a morning person you might fare better than me haha

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setokaiba22@reddit

It is and plenty of people do this, especially into London

Up to you if it’s worth it though - if it’s going to grow your career, a new challenge, extra money then it’ll be worth it for many

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