The Pros and Cons of a Long Commute to Work

Image from Pexels - CC0 License

For many people, commuting is merely a fact of life. You can't always live within a 5-minute walk to your work, and you have to be able to get there somehow. But while a commute of 20 to 30 minutes might seem reasonable, you might understandably be a bit wary if you're facing a commute of 40 minutes or more. A longer commute, which in some cases can be an hour or two, is harder to handle. It takes up a lot of your time and can be pretty exhausting. But there are pros and cons to a longer commute, which are worth weighing up if you're trying to decide if it's worth it.

Pro: Find the Right Job (or Home)

One of the major pros of a longer commute is that it allows you to be more flexible about the job you choose or about the home that you choose to live in. You're less constrained by a small geographic area, so you can be a little less picky about where you decide to live or work. So if you've found a job that's perfect for you but it's a bit further away than your current job, the commute doesn't have to stop you from taking it. Similarly, if you're moving home, you might find the perfect home a little further out. Plus, you always have the opportunity to change jobs or move home again in the future.

Con: Commuting Can Be Tiring

Whether your commute is a long drive, you use public transport or you even cycle into work, it can be exhausting. The longer your commute is, the more it can drain the energy from you. It takes up a lot of your time, and it can almost feel like a second job. You have a huge task to complete before you even get to work, then you have to do it all again when the day is over. A long commute might be novel at first, but after a while, it can really start to become tiring.

Pro: Time to Yourself

The thing that many people enjoy about a long commute is that they get time on their own. No matter how you get to work, you have time to spend with your thoughts to both prepare for the start of a new day and decompress at the end of the day. It's the perfect time to catch up on podcasts or listen to audiobooks, or you could put on some music. If you're taking public transport, you might get out a book or something else to read, or maybe you could even write or draw. You can check the news for the day or do anything else you don't have time for at any other point in the day.

Image from Pexels - CC0 License

Con: Increased Chance of an Accident

Driving to work might be necessary for many, but spending longer on the road could mean that you have an increased chance of getting into an accident. While you might think of driving as a relatively safe form of transport, you're much more likely to have something happen on the road compared to taking a train. If you don't want to have to look for legal representation for car accident matters, you need to be careful on your commute. Whether you're stuck in traffic for much of it or your commute is mostly smooth-sailing, drive safely.

Pro: Time to Nap (On Public Transport)

If you take public transport instead of driving, it can give you more freedom during your commute. You don't need to concentrate on the road, which means you can do what you want. As well as entertaining yourself with various things (or even getting some work done), you might have time to take a nap. Of course, you do have to be careful that you don't sleep for too long and miss your stop.

Con: Less Time at Home

Getting less time at home is a big drawback of having a long commute. Less time at home means less time to get housework done, less time to spend with your family and pets, and less time to relax in the place where you feel safe. This can make a big difference when you're trying to decide if a long commute is right for you. If you need to have your time at home, it might be better to avoid longer commuting times.

A long commute might seem like a nightmare to some, but others will definitely feel like it's worth it.