Some other things which make you happier and are supported by evidence. 1. exercise 2. be grateful (write 1-3 things each day) 3. socialise (obviously) 4. sleep well 5. Have some purpose (e.g. a meaningful job) 6. Eat well (especially non-processed food) 7. give to others 8. go outside 9. Spend money on experiences and not materials
Thank you for this list (I mean that sincerely). I am shocked that there a lot of things on that list that I don't do or that I don't do often. Of course that's up to me. I'm also in HS but I don't know if that relates:/
I'd especially recommend the going outside one. I feel like getting a sufficient amount of nature-smells everyday is essential for one's psyche. Also you get some exercise and reflection/boredom done (and yes boredom is also super important given that we live in this sea of information)
+TRASH. Thank you! I am a sophomore and have not been feeling very happy. I often don't think about like sleeping well (I stay up fairly late doing my hw which my school is not structured like a normal public school. It's a charter school and all the classes are honors and its very liberal artsy.) or eating well or exercising(though I an skinny. I just have never been athletic and have never been involved in a sport and I know those are just excuses but it's how it is). And I don't really socialize outside of school very often bc I've never been like the most social person. I love my friends but am kinda awkward and shy) I know I need to do those things and I'm the only one who has to push myself but like most days after i've gotten home from school and have done all my homework till and don't get finished till like 9:30-10:00 I don't think about exercising. I mean I worry about it but hopefully you get what I mean
+Sophie Luvs Books I apologize for my poor grammar. I type very quickly and often struggle with being articulate and concise but hopefully that was understandable
I dropped out of the first university I went to after two years because I had to commute a long way every day to attend and it was making me miserable. (In case you're wondering, dorm rooms weren't an option, because universities in my country don't tend to have them. I suppose I could have moved, but I'm from a culture where moving out that young isn't common, and I definitely wasn't ready to be independent) I always felt weird telling people the real reason I dropped out, because I would usually sense them judging my decision, but I don't regret it. I ended up attending a new university way closer to my house, and it made all the difference. Even though I already knew it was the right thing for me, this video makes me feel validated and justified in the decision I took.
Last year I quit my job (before they drive it off a cliff), left a 72mi r/t commute, sold my house in San Francisco, gave away 90% of my stuff including my car, and moved to NYC. Everything I need to access is within 5 blocks of my small apartment. The freedom is intoxicating.
That sounds like an IDEAL move to me! I've never had a commute longer than 45 minutes (walk > train > walk) and that was incredibly painful. Everything you need within 5 blocks is my idea of heaven.
My commute was 45min driving with no traffic, 1h30m with. To take trains to work would have taken 2h15m each way. San Francisco is not a functioning large city -- it continues to grow with no investment in real, functional, reliable transit options. This is why companies like Google created their own bus services. That is INSANE. This is what you get when you allow large companies to offshore profits and taxes to avoid paying into local infrastructure projects. Tax avoidance is a form of shoplifting community services.
Long term study results: I watched this video in September 2016 and related 100%. I hated my job, I hated my commute (40 minutes of intense highway driving, in Upstate NY winters), and therefore I hated waking up in the morning. Not healthy. I spent a year and a half searching for a new job. In September 2018, I started a new job which is exactly 9 minutes of driving down a beautiful country road. There are about a hundred other things I love about this new job and a hundred more awful things that I left behind at the job I quit, so this whole job makes me so much happier. But - hand on heart - I was driving to work this morning and remembered this video and teared up. Commute has a huge impact on happiness. Thanks for the inspiration Hank :)
I remember watching this video right before I moved to a new city. Influenced by these ideas, I chose an apartment with a pleasant 4.5 mile bike ride to work. Choosing to live close to work and bike commute has been a wonderful thing for my work-life balance and general mental health. So I just want to say thank you, Hank. Thanks for making this video!
Commute times have always been of utmost importance to me in choosing a place to live, and I have often wondered why even in cities with great public transportation so many people decide to live so far away and drive in, especially when they continuously complain about how traffic sucks.
I spend at *least* 2 hours per workday on a bus, usually closer to 3. I often laugh inappropriately at Dear Hank & John on said bus, as everyone knows commuter buses are SILENT PLACES, but Dear Hank & John is just too delightful. My job is super cool, though, and hopefully they will hire me full-time soon so I can move into NYC and have less of a commute. Also my cats are truly the best things in my life so yes, very much yes.
Glad we can help! Interestingly, bus commuters are, on average, more satisfied with their lives than car commuters. Also (interestingly) they are more trusting.
***** I mean, I have sworn a binding oath to never, ever drive in Manhattan, because that sounds like the path to early death. More trusting is very interesting, though - I'd have expected something akin to "more likely to just put up with manspreading because there's only so much you can do." :)
+vlogbrothers I think we are more trusting because we have seen more of people's behavior, and it's mostly good. I used to be a dog trainer and I learned there that most dog aggression was rooted in fear and the more we exposed them to situations that were positive or neutral, the less aggressive they were. I think people are the same. Distrust is often simply fear of the unknown, and if you ride the bus for a few years there are very few aspects of human behavior that are left unknown (including what it's like to sit next to someone who starts laughing for no apparent reason).
This is really interesting to me because when I was little (up to third grade) we lived about an hour and 45 mins away from my school and my mom's work. There was always traffic, so it usually took longer. My mom was depressed during this time, and it made it harder for her to raise my brother and I and put a significant damper on her relationship with my dad. Since we've moved much closer to everything, she's been much happier.
As a person that used to have a 90 minute commute twice a day. Having a job where I work from home has definitely made me a happier person. I get to spend more time with my kids, wife, and for myself. The research on commuting with stress, depression, and other negative heath effects is spot on. So much happier without the commute.
This makes total sense! People don't think about it but when I got my first "real" job, I made sure that the apartment I was moving into was close enough to work that the commute wasn't long, that my commute went against rush-hour (this is the BIGGEST thing, I think!) and that even if I was close, I was still in a "different neighborhood" than the one I worked in. I have no regrets about this!
As someone who is studying to become an urban planner, Hank is absolutely right on the money. The hard part is sustainably growing inner city neighborhoods so as to not exclusionary of people who already live in a place.
lol I was gonna be an architect, but when I saw how little jobs there were I switched to civil Engineering. When I realized how boring roads were, I switched to mechanical engineering.
Hank this is exactly what I needed to hear right now. I just moved and I've been going back and forth on whether I made the right choice. I thought I didn't but there is just so much self doubt wrapped up in not having the nice apartment so many of my peers have. Thank you for adding strength to the rational voice in my head.
I find that on my average commute to work (school, in my case), I enjoy the time spent letting my mind wander and letting my actions be guided through routine. It's a very calming experience, and I would not want it to take any less time.
That's an awesome attitude to have. I commuted for a few semesters while in college and while I sometimes regretted choosing not to live near the student community, I think the constant movement of always being on the road somehow got my brain juices flowing more so than staying stagnant in one location for so long.
I used to have an hour commute but I think what made the difference is 1. I love driving. I like the time it gives me to be alone, think and brain-write stories 2. It was not during rush hour and I was not sitting in bad traffic 3. I was driving from a city (and not a big one at that) out into the country to a nearby town and the view was always wonderful and 4. It was a job that I could look forward to because it was the job that allowed me to watch through all the vlogbrothers videos while working
I actually love commuting about 40 minutes, it gives me time to plan about my day, listen to music and relax a little. Might be because I live in a rural area. I think it might just depend on the person, honestly.
I think if you're already depressed, it can exacerbate the issue. Like, you're forced to be alone with your thoughts. If you lead a busy life, it's a break. If you lack stimulation, it's hell.
I agree, I don't mind my half hour commute at all. It's relaxing to just be in the car with a half hour of nothing but music or a podcast or audio book or whatever I'm into at the moment. It's important to just make the most of it and see the time as a positive rather than a negative.
I also commute 30-40 min each way because of distance. I live in a small town and work in a busy city hospital. Many things I love about my life would be impossible without making this commute. I can't work in a small town and do the thing I love, and neither I or my family will be happy living in a big city. Also it helps a lot when it is 30-40 min even at 1am. I don't really deal with traffic. Just me, my thoughts, and my podcasts (and after really stressful nights, Hank and the Perfect Strangers).
This is the absolute most true video you've ever made. It is so amazing to see something so true to what I know so eloquently stated by someone on the internet.
I like to find my happy in the small things because it's unrealistic that big things will always go your way but a good cuddle with my kitties or a good laugh with friends can happen totally be relied on to brighten my day. Oh and Nerdfighteria absolutely brings the happy!
I have two cats and commute 30min by bike. While I am not always happy, my life is definitely better for those two reasons. Cats mean you have to get out of bed even if you don't want to, make you laugh at least once per day and there is always someone there to greet you when you come home. Biking means I get a mild exercise everyday even though I don't like sports that much. It gives me time to think and fresh air and sunlight. Where I live, it would take me the same 30min to get to work by public transport or car, but it is cheaper and I am not surrounded by stressed people.
Well, knitting a blanket might be challenging with a cat on your lap, but socks are totally doable. You have to convince the cat to sit on your lap and your phone shouldn't ring while it is out of reach, though.
Thank you for making this video Hank. I made a decision to commute an hour and a half to and from my university and it has been weighing on me. Moving out seems like a big undertaking. I lived in a dorm room for my first year and it was the best year I've experienced during my young adult life. Definitely something to think about.
on the topic of happiness - just a reminder that you are an infinite source of happiness independent of externalities. spread it around when you can :)
This is super true. Ever since I started working from home I am so much happier. I have more energy after work and am much less stressed out at the end of the day so I feel more like being social.
+1 for call centre time. The blank time where I didn't have to do anything was just the best. Probably reflects how much I was dissatisfied with my job though
I love my commute! Driving is peaceful and a time to listen to new jams and the news and fun podcasts and audiobooks! Make the most of the little quiet time you have.
Audiobooks on the commute.... game changer! I have four kids and have found it hard to find time to read at home but now I could knock out tfios in a matter of a few days on my commute. I have turned sorrow into joy!
Hank. It's 2020. The reason I'm sad is because I don't get to commute to my classes anymore. I was so hoping I'll find a way in this video to be happy. :'( thanks still
This... I used to commute in hs kinda long (2hr each way) then shorter (40 min), the first sucked for being late to class + waking early and the second was more pleasant, but ever since I cut commute out of my life in university and then in 2020 on not travelling at all i just miss the time of enforced scheduled reflection in my day. Bikes dont work cos you have to be vigilant, and walking is only a little ok, but sitting in a bus gave me things to focus on, an interesting place to explore with interesting people, a time without wifi and a buffer to plan things/do things in in emergencies. Sometimes in uni I would take public transport just to feel like Im going somewhere, just going to nowhere and back. I just cant do pure silence i guess
I used to commute 2.5 hours each day (5 hours total) by train to an internship, and at first it was terrible. But podcasts like Dear Hank and John and Not Too Deep and Intelligence Squared helped me soo much. They kept me entertained and I wasn't as tired as I was before.
my personal experience supports this. i didnt actually change my start or end to my commute but found a more reliable route that avoids the rush hour traffic. the pure negativity and tension in the air on those clogged roads was just so palpable and avoiding that changed my day immensely.
Hmmm... I have had a typically lengthy Southern California commute for about 12 years now, and have always enjoyed that time listening to NPR or Sirius radio. I'l try to be more miserable in the future.
Ahahaha yeah I didn't think I minded my commute so much! While it would be nice to avoid, it's more other people coming to visit I worry about than my own self on the subway.
I too listens to npr on the train ride to school, it's an hour long, but npr makes it feel like time we'll spent. I actually enjoy that commute because of it
So so so true. My dad used to spend about 4 hours total commuting. He got back pains from the train and lack of exercise only to sit the other 6+ hours in an office. Now he is SO much happier as he only has a 20 minute commute and is able to fit in so much more time into his day!!
moving closer to my work was one of the best decisions i ever made. even though i pay more than i did before, it opened up SO much of my day and i am a different person. worth every penny.
With some funding and much perseverance most stuff can be proven scientifically. With Pareto in mind, 80% of anything is scientifically provable, The other 20% is just harder.
Very true. My drive to school is 2 1/2 hours round trip, 3 days a week (last semester it was 4 days!). I was miserable before I started listening to audiobooks in the car. I also mix it up a little with a audio course in conversational Spanish and exploring new genres of music. Now I consider it "my time" to recharge.
Oh no, beads sound horrible if you have to rip it! I am knitting a sweater for the winter and am spinning colorful random fiber while planing my next big spinning & knitting project; I have a bag full of gray Shetland that will someday become a big blanket.
I have only knitted one blanket and I like to cuddle under it so much! I never used beads (well, ten on a cuff don't count, do they?) and pre strung sounds like not a lot of fun. But you will finish and then you have a beadbag you made yourself!
It's so cool that you said that, I've been literally spending the last 3 months attempting to make my commuting to work/school more engaging. There was just something monotonous about the way I commuted before that was getting to me. Currently I own an adult scooter that reduces my 35-minute $2.75 subway ride to a 20 minute exercise and things have been a little bit better!
So, while it's true that we need to develop more densely, we also need to develop in ways that are conducive to bicycling. I would find bicycling in NYC to be a bit terrifying, since the drivers are so aggressive and they dominate the roads.
Every city that I ever went to needs that. The few cycleways usually are intended for leisure at the weekend and don't take people from residential to commercial districts.
Yes! We need bike paths. In my city, there are 'bike here,' diagrams (pictures of bikes with arrows in a certain way) that are painted by road crews... right in the middle of the road! Even some roads with heavy traffic have those! Bikes and motor vehicles do NOT belong in the same lane. We need bike paths!
I know what you mean. Bikes can't be on the actual road, as we'll get hit, but we can't be on the sidewalk because we'll end up hitting pedestrians! (exaggerating, of course, but basic concept still applies)
Wow, that's actually one more thing on the list-of-reasons-my-current-job-makes-me-unhappy. I already knew that the commute was a pain, but after watching that video and reflecting on it, it makes a lot of sense that I could drastically improve my current happiness levels if I worked somewhere else.
I started Dear Hank & John recently and have gotten to the 70th episode in just a few months. I'll have to find new podcasts!! Definitely making a major difference in my commute. I spend it laughing instead of fussing at other drivers who obviously can't hear me.
Quick question, I have heard that looking at baby animals relives you of stress and makes you happier. Is that true? It sounds like its bogus, but it works for me.
Hey Hank, I've always taken every step to keep a short commute personally. My commute of about 15 minutes where I ended up choosing to live was at the very high end of what i would consider reasonable commute length. But ultimately, what I find gives me the shortest commute, is not dense population building, but sparse populations. My shortest commute ever was when I lived in the town of Keene, NH. Because there was a small enough amount of traffic, because the population wasn't so dense, I was able bike to work every morning. It was wonderful. Honestly this, along with my love for running on trails, is why I will, personally NEVER live or work in or probably even near a big city. I don't understand why people like big cities so much.
Often, yes! I get to say hi to my kids when they get home from school, I don't have to make arrangements for repair people to come and fix the fridge, and if I work my day right, I can run errands over lunch!
It can end up being more stressful. My father worked at home a few days a week for a while. They called him at any time of the day, during weekends, holidays etc. The hours he saved not commuting were spent working
true, but I have conference calls several times a day, and I am on instant messaging constantly, so I'm not completely isolated. Also, since most of the people I interact with are scattered across the country/planet, going into the office wouldn't facilitate interacting with my "team" anyway.- just random people in other departments.
This is so very true for me. I was fortunate enough to find a telecommuting job after years of 1-3 hour commutes and it has made everything in my life easier.
Why are these sock subscription clubs always for only one sock a month? Why would anyone want to pay $10+ a month for only one pair of socks? It should at least be a bag of socks per month.
Thank you for this Hank. Our family was thinking of moving further from the city and handling the longer commute. Now I know how that will affect our psyche.
I walk to work whilst listening to dear Hank and John, it's lovely because I leave early and walk through the park even though it's slightly longer, although I do get a few looks when I laugh for seemingly no reason.
i just realized this is probably one of the reasons i absolutely despised high school. i lived in a place where my high school was 40 minutes away, and since there was no other bus routes to my house, the bus ride to school was an hour long, so the driver also stopped in a nearby town, and i was forced to listen to the nonsense of my thoughts for an hour in the morning when everyone was quiet, and then the nonsense of other high schoolers for an hour in the afternoon when everyone was loud, for 5 days a week, for roughly 4 years of my life. no wonder i hated that school and everyone in it.
As a newly-converted cycling commuter, this makes me extra happy. It is freeing and joyful and you don't spend the journey stressing about your day! Socks also bring me joy, so well done on the extra fun video! xD
I love driving to work and listening to my music. It gives me a sense of freedom, and it's usually the only time during my day when I listen to music anymore
I just started working from home three days out of my five day work week and I can confirm that it does make a HUGE difference in the amount of energy I have. As always, great video Hank :D
I agree with the whole idea of the commute to work being linked to happiness... However, I don't think that making cities more dense is the best solution... Unless you're relativity rich, high rise buildings tend to be really ugly and it makes the city more claustrophobic because the street usually remains the same width... And of course the streets cannot deal with the extra traffic the new residents bring... I would much rather build new cities, although somebody has to invest more in the infrastructure to make this happen
1st: Public transport takes care of a lot of the issues of traffic and if you build the city right (with mixed zoning) then people can walk where they want to go 2nd: High rise buildings make cities pretty (ask any civil engineer)and adding rooftop gardens and bee hives should be the norm 3rd: Most cities are in the best places already since they tend to be near good sources of resources. Starting a new city in a place that doesn't have one means huge difficulties for energy distribution, water sourcing, and creation of government services (since gov't services usually have to exist before populations do)
1. Public transport only works when you convince people to use it. This is not an easy thing to do in the US where people really love their cars. 2. This is still a major point of debate and preference. For example, I and many people that I know really don't enjoy staring at massive buildings. We would much rather be able to see past them and look at the horizon. And of course the people planning and making them say they're pretty, they went to school to plan, build, and make money off them. 3. This is true.
+Kitsune Gaming - I'd argue that your first point isn't actually true, as I'm willing to bet that if public transport in the US was of the same quality that it is in Europe and East Asia, and not the cesspool that it currently infamously is, it could do very well in enticing people to get out of their cars.
Robert Faber For some people that is true, but others just love driving and don't want to give up their chance to drive places. I'm guessing the majority group changes with location.
Kitsune Gaming Well, I'm a petrolhead as well, but most petrolheads love cars and driving because of the chance to bend the laws of physics around flowing corners, or go fast on motorways. Very few car lovers will have got their love of cars from sitting idly in a traffic jam for an hour a day...
I live a 30 minute walk to work - I moved cities and there was NO way I was going to live anywhere more than walking distance. Glad to realise it's been a really important influence on my mental health too.
It's funny that you posted this today, because one of my main considerations for the apartment I view tomorrow is that it is considerably closer to where I work in the morning. I knew it was important to me, but it sounds like it may have been more important than I realized!
+Hannah and Hugh With the money you save in their lowered mpg compared to a car, if you live in a place where it rains only occasionally, you can take a cab or über on rainy days.
Or just a regular bicycle. In densely packed cities, they're just as fast as motorcycles or cars, and you get free exercise thrown in as well. And if the weather is truly atrocious, you can generally park bicycles for free at train stations and just use public transport for the day.
This is very true. My mom used to have to drive 90 minutes to work and another 90 minutes from work. We recently moved just so we could be closer to her work and she is much happier. She has even started to go jogging, which is something she would almost never do, or only on weekends. I'm really happy for her. :)
I actually drive around 40 minutes to and from school everyday and I love it. It gives me time to listen to music and podcasts and since I go when there's less traffic (and it's dark) it's a calming experience. I guess it depends on the person or, maybe more so, on the traffic.
Thank you Hank. I am currently house-hunting as I will be relocating for a full time job after I graduate from college, and I never even considered the commute, I was just looking at the qualities of the houses and the safeness of the neighborhoods. I will definitely remember this and take it into consideration when I'm narrowing down my choices in the Spring :)
Thank you for the video!! I attend a university 55 miles north of my house and my husband works 35 miles south of it. Once I get to my university, I have to park far away from campus. They really want to encourage people not to drive so they put the student parking stops as far away as possible. I spend at least 3 hours each day on my commute. The only saving grace is that it gives me time for podcasts and audiobooks. I wish I had more time in the day to spend with my son or actually do my homework.
As some of the other people below have said, not all commutes are bad. I think there's a sweet spot somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes that is where you can gently transition into the working day. You clear your mind, you relax, you prepare and you feel ready for work. However if your journey is unexpectedly lengthened - and for some people every day is a lottery of "Will it take 50 minute? Will it take 2 hours?" that is what makes the commute so stressful.
Yes! Urban Ecology ROCKS. Building cities keeping in mind not only the health of its citizens, but also the environment is such an important task, especially as the need for cleaner air/water grows more important everyday. Thank you, Hank, for bringing up such an important topic!
Personally, listening to podcasts during my ride significantly improves my commute and makes it pleasurable. I live in NYC, so I can't exactly work my way around the long commute issue. I also spend a week finding the average amount of time it takes to get to work/school. I use the lower numbers -5 minutes to calculate the amount of undisturbed time I have on the subway before I need to be aware of getting off. I think this can prevents the anxiety many people get from constantly tying to figure out if they're stop has arrived.
I love driving for 45 min to an hour. alone to my University. It pumps me up, I put good music, think about life, drink coffee, etc. I don't know, I love it. Maby if it was longer than that I would get lonley or stressfull, but right now I always look foward to it.
Some other things which make you happier and are supported by evidence.
1. exercise
2. be grateful (write 1-3 things each day)
3. socialise (obviously)
4. sleep well
5. Have some purpose (e.g. a meaningful job)
6. Eat well (especially non-processed food)
7. give to others
8. go outside
9. Spend money on experiences and not materials
Thank you for this list (I mean that sincerely).
I am shocked that there a lot of things on that list that I don't do or that I don't do often. Of course that's up to me. I'm also in HS but I don't know if that relates:/
I'd especially recommend the going outside one. I feel like getting a sufficient amount of nature-smells everyday is essential for one's psyche. Also you get some exercise and reflection/boredom done (and yes boredom is also super important given that we live in this sea of information)
+TRASH. Thank you! I am a sophomore and have not been feeling very happy. I often don't think about like sleeping well (I stay up fairly late doing my hw which my school is not structured like a normal public school. It's a charter school and all the classes are honors and its very liberal artsy.) or eating well or exercising(though I an skinny. I just have never been athletic and have never been involved in a sport and I know those are just excuses but it's how it is). And I don't really socialize outside of school very often bc I've never been like the most social person. I love my friends but am kinda awkward and shy) I know I need to do those things and I'm the only one who has to push myself but like most days after i've gotten home from school and have done all my homework till and don't get finished till like 9:30-10:00 I don't think about exercising. I mean I worry about it but hopefully you get what I mean
+Sophie Luvs Books well not shy but introverted.
+Sophie Luvs Books I apologize for my poor grammar. I type very quickly and often struggle with being articulate and concise but hopefully that was understandable
I commute roughly two and a half hours a day during school (by walking, bus and train) This theory explains a lot now.
I remember when I used to be happy.
+Olivicornm
The cake is a lie.
that's so irrelevant. what's your point besides making an outdated and obscure portal reference?
I sincerely hope you'll be happy again my dude. DFTBA (because you are)
I hope you can become happy again.
hell I wish i could remember a time i was happy BUT driving makes me happy so i love commuting.
I dropped out of the first university I went to after two years because I had to commute a long way every day to attend and it was making me miserable. (In case you're wondering, dorm rooms weren't an option, because universities in my country don't tend to have them. I suppose I could have moved, but I'm from a culture where moving out that young isn't common, and I definitely wasn't ready to be independent) I always felt weird telling people the real reason I dropped out, because I would usually sense them judging my decision, but I don't regret it. I ended up attending a new university way closer to my house, and it made all the difference. Even though I already knew it was the right thing for me, this video makes me feel validated and justified in the decision I took.
+
Good for you!
+
+
You took care of yourself, and that's important :)
i completely understand, my uni commute is killing me but i didn't get into the uni that's only a 15 minute bus ride away.
+
Last year I quit my job (before they drive it off a cliff), left a 72mi r/t commute, sold my house in San Francisco, gave away 90% of my stuff including my car, and moved to NYC.
Everything I need to access is within 5 blocks of my small apartment.
The freedom is intoxicating.
U went from a house to an apartment wow thats so not a good move
I made enough on my house sale to retire. Buying in Manhattan now is insane.
My quality of life is MUCH better now.
That sounds like an IDEAL move to me! I've never had a commute longer than 45 minutes (walk > train > walk) and that was incredibly painful. Everything you need within 5 blocks is my idea of heaven.
My commute was 45min driving with no traffic, 1h30m with. To take trains to work would have taken 2h15m each way.
San Francisco is not a functioning large city -- it continues to grow with no investment in real, functional, reliable transit options. This is why companies like Google created their own bus services. That is INSANE.
This is what you get when you allow large companies to offshore profits and taxes to avoid paying into local infrastructure projects. Tax avoidance is a form of shoplifting community services.
Long term study results: I watched this video in September 2016 and related 100%. I hated my job, I hated my commute (40 minutes of intense highway driving, in Upstate NY winters), and therefore I hated waking up in the morning. Not healthy. I spent a year and a half searching for a new job. In September 2018, I started a new job which is exactly 9 minutes of driving down a beautiful country road. There are about a hundred other things I love about this new job and a hundred more awful things that I left behind at the job I quit, so this whole job makes me so much happier. But - hand on heart - I was driving to work this morning and remembered this video and teared up. Commute has a huge impact on happiness. Thanks for the inspiration Hank :)
My mom has a 2 hour or more commute... I should send this to her
Careful...she might make you move.
***** noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
+
I remember watching this video right before I moved to a new city. Influenced by these ideas, I chose an apartment with a pleasant 4.5 mile bike ride to work. Choosing to live close to work and bike commute has been a wonderful thing for my work-life balance and general mental health. So I just want to say thank you, Hank. Thanks for making this video!
In light of this advice, my wife and I are moving to a more expensive apartment that is 30 minutes closer to my new workplace.
Commute times have always been of utmost importance to me in choosing a place to live, and I have often wondered why even in cities with great public transportation so many people decide to live so far away and drive in, especially when they continuously complain about how traffic sucks.
I spend at *least* 2 hours per workday on a bus, usually closer to 3. I often laugh inappropriately at Dear Hank & John on said bus, as everyone knows commuter buses are SILENT PLACES, but Dear Hank & John is just too delightful. My job is super cool, though, and hopefully they will hire me full-time soon so I can move into NYC and have less of a commute.
Also my cats are truly the best things in my life so yes, very much yes.
+
Glad we can help! Interestingly, bus commuters are, on average, more satisfied with their lives than car commuters. Also (interestingly) they are more trusting.
+
*****
I mean, I have sworn a binding oath to never, ever drive in Manhattan, because that sounds like the path to early death. More trusting is very interesting, though - I'd have expected something akin to "more likely to just put up with manspreading because there's only so much you can do." :)
+vlogbrothers I think we are more trusting because we have seen more of people's behavior, and it's mostly good. I used to be a dog trainer and I learned there that most dog aggression was rooted in fear and the more we exposed them to situations that were positive or neutral, the less aggressive they were. I think people are the same. Distrust is often simply fear of the unknown, and if you ride the bus for a few years there are very few aspects of human behavior that are left unknown (including what it's like to sit next to someone who starts laughing for no apparent reason).
This is really interesting to me because when I was little (up to third grade) we lived about an hour and 45 mins away from my school and my mom's work. There was always traffic, so it usually took longer. My mom was depressed during this time, and it made it harder for her to raise my brother and I and put a significant damper on her relationship with my dad. Since we've moved much closer to everything, she's been much happier.
As a person that used to have a 90 minute commute twice a day. Having a job where I work from home has definitely made me a happier person.
I get to spend more time with my kids, wife, and for myself. The research on commuting with stress, depression, and other negative heath effects is spot on.
So much happier without the commute.
This makes total sense! People don't think about it but when I got my first "real" job, I made sure that the apartment I was moving into was close enough to work that the commute wasn't long, that my commute went against rush-hour (this is the BIGGEST thing, I think!) and that even if I was close, I was still in a "different neighborhood" than the one I worked in. I have no regrets about this!
woah woah woah wait- FIVE YEARS since TFIOS?! did I hear that right?!?!
Yep, about half the time that this channel's been a thing
I can't even handle that it's been over one year since papertowns, you guys. Let me process this first.
I know five years seems so long
The book
It's been 11 years since Looking For Alaska. Try to process that
As someone who is studying to become an urban planner, Hank is absolutely right on the money. The hard part is sustainably growing inner city neighborhoods so as to not exclusionary of people who already live in a place.
Yay! This actually made me happy as an architecture/ urban planning major ☺️
Well, you know what to do, young lady.
lol I was gonna be an architect, but when I saw how little jobs there were I switched to civil Engineering. When I realized how boring roads were, I switched to mechanical engineering.
+
+
You should switch to structural or civil engineer they get paid 20k more on average and there are more jobs for them.
Hank this is exactly what I needed to hear right now. I just moved and I've been going back and forth on whether I made the right choice. I thought I didn't but there is just so much self doubt wrapped up in not having the nice apartment so many of my peers have. Thank you for adding strength to the rational voice in my head.
I find that on my average commute to work (school, in my case), I enjoy the time spent letting my mind wander and letting my actions be guided through routine. It's a very calming experience, and I would not want it to take any less time.
+
That's an awesome attitude to have. I commuted for a few semesters while in college and while I sometimes regretted choosing not to live near the student community, I think the constant movement of always being on the road somehow got my brain juices flowing more so than staying stagnant in one location for so long.
Thank you for the compliment, and I really enjoy your use of "brain juices."
+
Don't Cry Zanzibar I'm flattered!
I used to have an hour commute but I think what made the difference is 1. I love driving. I like the time it gives me to be alone, think and brain-write stories 2. It was not during rush hour and I was not sitting in bad traffic 3. I was driving from a city (and not a big one at that) out into the country to a nearby town and the view was always wonderful and 4. It was a job that I could look forward to because it was the job that allowed me to watch through all the vlogbrothers videos while working
I actually love commuting about 40 minutes, it gives me time to plan about my day, listen to music and relax a little. Might be because I live in a rural area. I think it might just depend on the person, honestly.
I think if you're already depressed, it can exacerbate the issue. Like, you're forced to be alone with your thoughts. If you lead a busy life, it's a break. If you lack stimulation, it's hell.
Well, is it a 40 minute drive, or a 10 or 20 minute drive that is 40 minutes because of traffic? I think that makes a lot of difference.
Yeah, it's mostly due to distance. That's probably why. Traffic is awful, I understand why that would drive you crazy.
I agree, I don't mind my half hour commute at all. It's relaxing to just be in the car with a half hour of nothing but music or a podcast or audio book or whatever I'm into at the moment. It's important to just make the most of it and see the time as a positive rather than a negative.
I also commute 30-40 min each way because of distance. I live in a small town and work in a busy city hospital. Many things I love about my life would be impossible without making this commute. I can't work in a small town and do the thing I love, and neither I or my family will be happy living in a big city.
Also it helps a lot when it is 30-40 min even at 1am. I don't really deal with traffic. Just me, my thoughts, and my podcasts (and after really stressful nights, Hank and the Perfect Strangers).
This is the absolute most true video you've ever made. It is so amazing to see something so true to what I know so eloquently stated by someone on the internet.
I dunno, Hank. I think watching vlogbrothers videos makes lots of people very happy. 😉❤️
Yeah, but you shouldn't do that in the car
you shouldn't do that while driving*
you shouldn't do that while driving in a car
+
+
My commute is 20 feet and I'm so ANGRY! Jk. It's bliss.
I like to find my happy in the small things because it's unrealistic that big things will always go your way but a good cuddle with my kitties or a good laugh with friends can happen totally be relied on to brighten my day. Oh and Nerdfighteria absolutely brings the happy!
*
+
+
*+*
+
I am one of those long commuters (1 hr each way), and Dear Hank & John has made it so much more tolerable. Thank you for that.
I have two cats and commute 30min by bike. While I am not always happy, my life is definitely better for those two reasons.
Cats mean you have to get out of bed even if you don't want to, make you laugh at least once per day and there is always someone there to greet you when you come home.
Biking means I get a mild exercise everyday even though I don't like sports that much. It gives me time to think and fresh air and sunlight. Where I live, it would take me the same 30min to get to work by public transport or car, but it is cheaper and I am not surrounded by stressed people.
Also: Knitting. It makes you happy, I swear. You can knit your own socks with your cat on your lap and then wear them while riding your bike to work.
+
Well, knitting a blanket might be challenging with a cat on your lap, but socks are totally doable. You have to convince the cat to sit on your lap and your phone shouldn't ring while it is out of reach, though.
Thank you for making this video Hank. I made a decision to commute an hour and a half to and from my university and it has been weighing on me. Moving out seems like a big undertaking. I lived in a dorm room for my first year and it was the best year I've experienced during my young adult life. Definitely something to think about.
on the topic of happiness - just a reminder that you are an infinite source of happiness independent of externalities. spread it around when you can :)
This is super true. Ever since I started working from home I am so much happier. I have more energy after work and am much less stressed out at the end of the day so I feel more like being social.
I don't know I work in retail and the commute is the better part of my job
True. True.
yep I loved driving to (and especially FROM) work when I was doing retail. Best part of the day just jammin out to music
+1 for call centre time. The blank time where I didn't have to do anything was just the best. Probably reflects how much I was dissatisfied with my job though
Yeah, when the commute home means "Well hell yeah. I'm driving away from that place!"...
This comment gives me life
I love my commute! Driving is peaceful and a time to listen to new jams and the news and fun podcasts and audiobooks! Make the most of the little quiet time you have.
Those socks are amazing!
-Super Carlin Brothers
I was thinking the same thing.
+
+
+
+
Audiobooks on the commute.... game changer! I have four kids and have found it hard to find time to read at home but now I could knock out tfios in a matter of a few days on my commute. I have turned sorrow into joy!
Hey Hank I know one thing that makes a whole lot of people happy: nerdfighteria and vlogbrothers :)
High Five! (why is it 2016 and I still can't respond to a comment with GIF)
+
+
+
+
Hank. It's 2020. The reason I'm sad is because I don't get to commute to my classes anymore. I was so hoping I'll find a way in this video to be happy. :'( thanks still
This... I used to commute in hs kinda long (2hr each way) then shorter (40 min), the first sucked for being late to class + waking early and the second was more pleasant, but ever since I cut commute out of my life in university and then in 2020 on not travelling at all i just miss the time of enforced scheduled reflection in my day. Bikes dont work cos you have to be vigilant, and walking is only a little ok, but sitting in a bus gave me things to focus on, an interesting place to explore with interesting people, a time without wifi and a buffer to plan things/do things in in emergencies. Sometimes in uni I would take public transport just to feel like Im going somewhere, just going to nowhere and back. I just cant do pure silence i guess
I used to commute 2.5 hours each day (5 hours total) by train to an internship, and at first it was terrible. But podcasts like Dear Hank and John and Not Too Deep and Intelligence Squared helped me soo much. They kept me entertained and I wasn't as tired as I was before.
#TeamWalkToWork
my personal experience supports this. i didnt actually change my start or end to my commute but found a more reliable route that avoids the rush hour traffic. the pure negativity and tension in the air on those clogged roads was just so palpable and avoiding that changed my day immensely.
I work from home so my commute is just to walk up the stairs.
Hank, I wish you nothing but good fortune. After a difficult day, this was so affirming to watch. Thank you.
Hmmm... I have had a typically lengthy Southern California commute for about 12 years now, and have always enjoyed that time listening to NPR or Sirius radio. I'l try to be more miserable in the future.
+
+
Ahahaha yeah I didn't think I minded my commute so much! While it would be nice to avoid, it's more other people coming to visit I worry about than my own self on the subway.
Yeah until very recently my entire job consisted of driving alone in my car. NPR makes all the difference.
I too listens to npr on the train ride to school, it's an hour long, but npr makes it feel like time we'll spent. I actually enjoy that commute because of it
So so so true. My dad used to spend about 4 hours total commuting. He got back pains from the train and lack of exercise only to sit the other 6+ hours in an office. Now he is SO much happier as he only has a 20 minute commute and is able to fit in so much more time into his day!!
'People with long commutes have less leisure time' No shit!
moving closer to my work was one of the best decisions i ever made. even though i pay more than i did before, it opened up SO much of my day and i am a different person. worth every penny.
This video is all about the muppets, right? Right? It's scientifically proven that the muppets are wonderful, right? I think I read that once.
I don't know where you read that, but I support the theory that the muppets are wonderful.
The Muppets used to give me nightmares as a child. I think we need more trials before we have conclusive evidence on this topic.
On a slightly-off-topic side note, would the Muppets count as Awesome Sox? Since some of them are just really elaborate sock puppets.
With some funding and much perseverance most stuff can be proven scientifically. With Pareto in mind, 80% of anything is scientifically provable, The other 20% is just harder.
+
Very true. My drive to school is 2 1/2 hours round trip, 3 days a week (last semester it was 4 days!). I was miserable before I started listening to audiobooks in the car. I also mix it up a little with a audio course in conversational Spanish and exploring new genres of music. Now I consider it "my time" to recharge.
I just keep knitting my weird socks hank
Thanks
Me too! (I like them out of my handspun, but otherwise plain)
freyaspins
Another spinner!
\^.^/
I'm knitting a beadpurse at the moment
If I have to start over again I might try to set it on fire
Oh no, beads sound horrible if you have to rip it!
I am knitting a sweater for the winter and am spinning colorful random fiber while planing my next big spinning & knitting project; I have a bag full of gray Shetland that will someday become a big blanket.
The beads are pre strung so if I made a mistake I need to start over
I did blankets for a while
most in bulky though
I have only knitted one blanket and I like to cuddle under it so much!
I never used beads (well, ten on a cuff don't count, do they?) and pre strung sounds like not a lot of fun.
But you will finish and then you have a beadbag you made yourself!
I just woke up remembering the terrible day I had yesterday, and this video cheered me up. Thank you so much, Hank
It's so cool that you said that, I've been literally spending the last 3 months attempting to make my commuting to work/school more engaging. There was just something monotonous about the way I commuted before that was getting to me.
Currently I own an adult scooter that reduces my 35-minute $2.75 subway ride to a 20 minute exercise and things have been a little bit better!
My entire quest to my current happiness revolves around the topic in this video. The results are real. I can testify.
Commuting isn't my problem because I walk everywhere. I'm seeing a doctor next week to get my first prescription for anti-depressants.
That appointment isn't soon enough.
Good on you for letting doctors help you. The first step is always difficult. All the best :)
+
+Julia Mak thank you ☺
Joshua W actually very often depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance generally some problem with serotonin.
On the topic of happiness, this video was extremely well timed for me. The content was even more so. Thank you!
So, while it's true that we need to develop more densely, we also need to develop in ways that are conducive to bicycling. I would find bicycling in NYC to be a bit terrifying, since the drivers are so aggressive and they dominate the roads.
Every city that I ever went to needs that. The few cycleways usually are intended for leisure at the weekend and don't take people from residential to commercial districts.
Yes! We need bike paths. In my city, there are 'bike here,' diagrams (pictures of bikes with arrows in a certain way) that are painted by road crews... right in the middle of the road! Even some roads with heavy traffic have those!
Bikes and motor vehicles do NOT belong in the same lane. We need bike paths!
I know what you mean. Bikes can't be on the actual road, as we'll get hit, but we can't be on the sidewalk because we'll end up hitting pedestrians! (exaggerating, of course, but basic concept still applies)
Wow, that's actually one more thing on the list-of-reasons-my-current-job-makes-me-unhappy. I already knew that the commute was a pain, but after watching that video and reflecting on it, it makes a lot of sense that I could drastically improve my current happiness levels if I worked somewhere else.
Haha remember commutes
I started Dear Hank & John recently and have gotten to the 70th episode in just a few months. I'll have to find new podcasts!! Definitely making a major difference in my commute. I spend it laughing instead of fussing at other drivers who obviously can't hear me.
You should make shirts with a picture of pizza that says John for this year's pizzamas.
Credit to my dad for coming up with that.
+
+
+
Yes. Just yes
Dear Hank and John really makes my hour long commute home so much more pleasant. So thanks for that! :)
Quick question, I have heard that looking at baby animals relives you of stress and makes you happier. Is that true? It sounds like its bogus, but it works for me.
Anyone have an answer?
+
I don't have an answer, but I want one.
+
Mean either :)
Hey Hank,
I've always taken every step to keep a short commute personally. My commute of about 15 minutes where I ended up choosing to live was at the very high end of what i would consider reasonable commute length. But ultimately, what I find gives me the shortest commute, is not dense population building, but sparse populations. My shortest commute ever was when I lived in the town of Keene, NH. Because there was a small enough amount of traffic, because the population wasn't so dense, I was able bike to work every morning. It was wonderful. Honestly this, along with my love for running on trails, is why I will, personally NEVER live or work in or probably even near a big city. I don't understand why people like big cities so much.
What about people who work at home? Are they the happiest people?
Often, yes! I get to say hi to my kids when they get home from school, I don't have to make arrangements for repair people to come and fix the fridge, and if I work my day right, I can run errands over lunch!
It can end up being more stressful. My father worked at home a few days a week for a while. They called him at any time of the day, during weekends, holidays etc. The hours he saved not commuting were spent working
true, but I have conference calls several times a day, and I am on instant messaging constantly, so I'm not completely isolated. Also, since most of the people I interact with are scattered across the country/planet, going into the office wouldn't facilitate interacting with my "team" anyway.- just random people in other departments.
This is so very true for me. I was fortunate enough to find a telecommuting job after years of 1-3 hour commutes and it has made everything in my life easier.
Why are these sock subscription clubs always for only one sock a month? Why would anyone want to pay $10+ a month for only one pair of socks? It should at least be a bag of socks per month.
Thank you for this Hank. Our family was thinking of moving further from the city and handling the longer commute. Now I know how that will affect our psyche.
How long will the sock subscription be up and available to.. subscribe to?
Depends on whether people like it, but we're not planning on ending it any time soon.
Yay!
+vlogbrothers will all the socks be nerdfighteria related?
***** awesome!
They are already out of stock :( I really want these socks!
I walk to work whilst listening to dear Hank and John, it's lovely because I leave early and walk through the park even though it's slightly longer, although I do get a few looks when I laugh for seemingly no reason.
i just realized this is probably one of the reasons i absolutely despised high school. i lived in a place where my high school was 40 minutes away, and since there was no other bus routes to my house, the bus ride to school was an hour long, so the driver also stopped in a nearby town, and i was forced to listen to the nonsense of my thoughts for an hour in the morning when everyone was quiet, and then the nonsense of other high schoolers for an hour in the afternoon when everyone was loud, for 5 days a week, for roughly 4 years of my life. no wonder i hated that school and everyone in it.
As a newly-converted cycling commuter, this makes me extra happy. It is freeing and joyful and you don't spend the journey stressing about your day!
Socks also bring me joy, so well done on the extra fun video! xD
Hanks wearing the same shirt as last video
So did John. I'm pretty sure they both filmed the last two videos back to back.
WE DIDN'T! John's rib wasn't broken last week! Also, apparently we just have outfits that we really like.
+vlogbrothers Haha. Sorry for assuming, then.
I detect some kind of conspiracy...
+Laura Amelia Rodríguez Reyes maybe he owns more than one pozza john shirt
I love driving to work and listening to my music. It gives me a sense of freedom, and it's usually the only time during my day when I listen to music anymore
Am I the only one who noticed that you're wearing the same shirt and jacket as last time?
Good catch!
Oh God...that's embarrassing...
+vlogbrothers +
i came down here to comment that!! Also, why does hank keep looking to the right (his left) at the beginning??
+aastha sharma thats probably where is screen or camera controls or both are, so he's setting up his shot
Dear Hank and John helps make my hour long commute to school a lot more enjoyable. thanks!
Nooooo. Awesome sox club sounds perfect! But I'm a 13.5! :(
I'm a 12 and it's a bit of a stretch :-(
*****
Yeah. Can't you get bigger socks for the club? :-(
I wouldn't mind paying a little extra. I'm used to that, being a big guy.
I just started working from home three days out of my five day work week and I can confirm that it does make a HUGE difference in the amount of energy I have. As always, great video Hank :D
HANK, 55 jokes in under 4 minutes, do it, do it now, then do 56 since you missed a year.
+ Loki yes i completely agree
+
+
+
+
Yesssss I moved to be three blocks from work and my life is MARKEDLY better!
Well if I saw this 2 months ago, I'd have bought a different house >.>
Still my commute is 40 minutes, not 90. I guess it could be worse.
Audio books are the best way I've found to tackle a longer commute!
I agree with the whole idea of the commute to work being linked to happiness... However, I don't think that making cities more dense is the best solution... Unless you're relativity rich, high rise buildings tend to be really ugly and it makes the city more claustrophobic because the street usually remains the same width... And of course the streets cannot deal with the extra traffic the new residents bring... I would much rather build new cities, although somebody has to invest more in the infrastructure to make this happen
1st: Public transport takes care of a lot of the issues of traffic and if you build the city right (with mixed zoning) then people can walk where they want to go
2nd: High rise buildings make cities pretty (ask any civil engineer)and adding rooftop gardens and bee hives should be the norm
3rd: Most cities are in the best places already since they tend to be near good sources of resources. Starting a new city in a place that doesn't have one means huge difficulties for energy distribution, water sourcing, and creation of government services (since gov't services usually have to exist before populations do)
1. Public transport only works when you convince people to use it. This is not an easy thing to do in the US where people really love their cars.
2. This is still a major point of debate and preference. For example, I and many people that I know really don't enjoy staring at massive buildings. We would much rather be able to see past them and look at the horizon. And of course the people planning and making them say they're pretty, they went to school to plan, build, and make money off them.
3. This is true.
+Kitsune Gaming - I'd argue that your first point isn't actually true, as I'm willing to bet that if public transport in the US was of the same quality that it is in Europe and East Asia, and not the cesspool that it currently infamously is, it could do very well in enticing people to get out of their cars.
Robert Faber For some people that is true, but others just love driving and don't want to give up their chance to drive places. I'm guessing the majority group changes with location.
Kitsune Gaming Well, I'm a petrolhead as well, but most petrolheads love cars and driving because of the chance to bend the laws of physics around flowing corners, or go fast on motorways. Very few car lovers will have got their love of cars from sitting idly in a traffic jam for an hour a day...
I live a 30 minute walk to work - I moved cities and there was NO way I was going to live anywhere more than walking distance. Glad to realise it's been a really important influence on my mental health too.
16 views, 11 comments, and 40 LIKES? What?
Welcome to youtube XD
We are nerdfighters, we've tricked the youtube liking system with our awesomeness.
+
+
The like counter refreshes more quickly than the view counter.
It's funny that you posted this today, because one of my main considerations for the apartment I view tomorrow is that it is considerably closer to where I work in the morning. I knew it was important to me, but it sounds like it may have been more important than I realized!
Well, fuck me then. I can't move, and my university is over 40 minutes by train. I'm doomed to unhappiness forever.
You're not going to be in university forever.
Forever? Does it take that long to get a degree these days?
Fear not! Hank prescribed the DearHankAndJohn podcast, so at least it won't be as extreme an unhappiness...
You know, universities have employees too.
Tesserex He wouldn't have said "my university" he would've said "my job".
I just had and exact same thought yesterday.
better spend more and live in a worse place but enjoy every minute of moving
Better solution? Buy a motorcycle. :D
never seen someone look sad on a motorcycle
+Andrew Lowery Go to south east asia. Motorcycles are more common than cars there. And people are as sad as in other parts of the world.
Way ahead of you buddy ;D
+Hannah and Hugh With the money you save in their lowered mpg compared to a car, if you live in a place where it rains only occasionally, you can take a cab or über on rainy days.
Or just a regular bicycle. In densely packed cities, they're just as fast as motorcycles or cars, and you get free exercise thrown in as well. And if the weather is truly atrocious, you can generally park bicycles for free at train stations and just use public transport for the day.
This is very true. My mom used to have to drive 90 minutes to work and another 90 minutes from work. We recently moved just so we could be closer to her work and she is much happier. She has even started to go jogging, which is something she would almost never do, or only on weekends. I'm really happy for her. :)
Dear Hank and John DEFINITELY has been helping my commute, especially since for six months I had a commute of 4 hours total everyday.
I actually drive around 40 minutes to and from school everyday and I love it. It gives me time to listen to music and podcasts and since I go when there's less traffic (and it's dark) it's a calming experience. I guess it depends on the person or, maybe more so, on the traffic.
I love listening to podcasts and music when I commute, so I often don't want it to end.
Thank you Hank. I am currently house-hunting as I will be relocating for a full time job after I graduate from college, and I never even considered the commute, I was just looking at the qualities of the houses and the safeness of the neighborhoods. I will definitely remember this and take it into consideration when I'm narrowing down my choices in the Spring :)
Thank you for the video!! I attend a university 55 miles north of my house and my husband works 35 miles south of it. Once I get to my university, I have to park far away from campus. They really want to encourage people not to drive so they put the student parking stops as far away as possible. I spend at least 3 hours each day on my commute. The only saving grace is that it gives me time for podcasts and audiobooks. I wish I had more time in the day to spend with my son or actually do my homework.
As some of the other people below have said, not all commutes are bad. I think there's a sweet spot somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes that is where you can gently transition into the working day. You clear your mind, you relax, you prepare and you feel ready for work. However if your journey is unexpectedly lengthened - and for some people every day is a lottery of "Will it take 50 minute? Will it take 2 hours?" that is what makes the commute so stressful.
I commute on a bus an hour everyday to uni.. and I love it! two whole hours there and back of uninterrupted reading time !
I love listening to podcasts and audio books, so commute is the best and happiest part of my workday.
This is precisely why I quit my job a couple months ago. The commute was so stressful and frustrating and saddening.
Dear Hank and John causes more stress during my commute because I often have to stifle my laugh so as to appear sane.
Yes! Urban Ecology ROCKS. Building cities keeping in mind not only the health of its citizens, but also the environment is such an important task, especially as the need for cleaner air/water grows more important everyday. Thank you, Hank, for bringing up such an important topic!
Personally, listening to podcasts during my ride significantly improves my commute and makes it pleasurable. I live in NYC, so I can't exactly work my way around the long commute issue. I also spend a week finding the average amount of time it takes to get to work/school. I use the lower numbers -5 minutes to calculate the amount of undisturbed time I have on the subway before I need to be aware of getting off. I think this can prevents the anxiety many people get from constantly tying to figure out if they're stop has arrived.
I love driving for 45 min to an hour. alone to my University. It pumps me up, I put good music, think about life, drink coffee, etc. I don't know, I love it. Maby if it was longer than that I would get lonley or stressfull, but right now I always look foward to it.