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Coping with the commute

August 11, 2008 // 18 Comments  // Add yours »

There's only a few people I know who enjoy their commute.  My friend Steph is one of them.  From my understanding, she gets to cruise through scenic country roads on her way to work.  I'd imagine I might enjoy that as well.  For most of us, the commute involves sitting in traffic with a bunch of  miserable drivers on some major highway like I-95 and dodging street repairs and building construction. It can get depressing.

My commute starts off okay.  I usually get to cruise past the traffic in the Naugatuck Valley and then along most of RT 34.  By the time I get to downtown New Haven it all changes and the quality of my drive plummets.  Some jerk might cut me off, the road could be backed up due to construction, or a pedestrian will dart in front of traffic and nearly cause an accident.  Typical events like these could easily set a bad tone for the day.

There's a few ways I stay positive during the drive into work:

• Music (lately it's been The Beatles, Vampire Weekend, or Franz Ferdinand... played loudly)
• Coffee
• Fresh Air (always drive with the windows down)

Still, once I get downtown, my mood can easily change for the worse no matter what I do to prevent it.  And then I think about how it's quite possible that I could be doing this for decades to come.  Some days I wish I could ditch the car and walk to work, or at least take alternate routes. Unfortunately, it just isn't possible for the time being.  Any tips from my fellow commuters on how to improve this unfortunate part of the day?

Update: Some responses I received from my twitter followers below the cut:

• @chobson - Avoid highways, take local roads whenever possible. It'll be a few extra minutes, but it's much less agitation.
• @mindymunizaga - I enjoy my morning solo performances way more than I probably should...you can call me and we'll do a duet.  Speakerphone ftw!
• @criana - podcasts are good if your driving or audiobooks. Map out alternatives around heavy traffic.

Then Steph sent me this pic from her drive into work this morning.  As well as this one, this one, and this one.

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Comments:

For the record - I know I really shouldn't be complaining. The length of my commute isn't all that bad. I know many people, including family members, whose commute takes an hour or longer. I typically spend about a half hour to 45 minutes driving in, and about a half hour driving back. I know it could be worse.

Still, it's quickly becoming my least favorite part of my day.

Posted on: Aug 11, 2008 12:02:52 PM

Remember that time I told our boss about how much I like driving to work and how I think it's funny to look at bitter commuters scowling at eachother - then he ruined my faith in mankind by basically telling me that in 20 years I'll hate my life?

Til then, I'll be singing my way to work with the windows down.

Posted on: Aug 11, 2008 12:45:01 PM

Yay, it's true, I'm very lucky. However, there's always the 5mph tractor on a 3 mile stretch of a one lane road and about 12 deer a day running in front of my car that can be comparible to urban traffic stresses. Although the deer give me nasty looks, they never swear back.

Posted on: Aug 11, 2008 1:58:44 PM

Impossible? Hardly. It's only a question of your priorities. If the prospect of sitting in traffic for the next forty years seems depressing to you, then make a plan for how you'll avoid that fate.

Lots of people seem to do things they hate simply because they lack the creativity or courage to find a better way. Then they'll do everything they can to convince you it's the only way -- because otherwise they'd have to admit to themselves what they missed.

Posted on: Aug 11, 2008 2:33:59 PM

Wow, I love Ed.

Posted on: Aug 12, 2008 2:05:00 PM

Have you considered leaving the driving to someone else? CtTransit has train routes that run from ____ St or Derby Train Station to Chapel St every half hour. You can also transfer to _____. The commute is abt. 30 mins, costs about $40 a month and the bus has bike racks so you could ride your bike should you need to get around during the day. You should give it a test run some day and report back.

Posted on: Aug 12, 2008 2:29:47 PM

Here is the link to the bus schedule: http://www.cttransit.com/Uploads_Schedules/nh_Fwest_wkdysched(4).pdf

Posted on: Aug 12, 2008 2:31:32 PM

I made the suggestion about podcasts, but I also keep a playlist of relaxing music like Enya and classical to keep me peaceful. Comedy is good too.

I also try to relax and think, this isn't forever, someday I plan to have no commute and work from home.

And for the moments when I can't seem to get out of my cranky mood, I'm glad I installed air horns, which usually make people who are doing oblivious things wake up :)

Posted on: Aug 12, 2008 3:10:18 PM

Forgot to add. I can totally relate to Steph. I moved jobs to get away from commuting on I-84. I had a wonderful relaxing trip through the woods and hills, where my only fellow commuters were a few deer.

Then they moved the company to the city I had left, and now I'm back on 84. It makes a big difference taking back roads, with very few traffic lights :)

Posted on: Aug 12, 2008 3:13:08 PM

Comrades in the lanes beside me on my long commute to summer class seem to take amusement in texting and talking on their mobiles while operating heavy machinery at high speeds... have you tried that yet?

Posted on: Aug 12, 2008 3:16:14 PM

"Then they'll do everything they can to convince you it's the only way -- because otherwise they'd have to admit to themselves what they missed"
I love Ed, too.

Fan club?

Posted on: Aug 12, 2008 3:38:58 PM

FansOfEd.com

Posted on: Aug 13, 2008 11:29:11 AM

Fans of Ed can check out his photography blog here: http://blog.sweetbytes.net/

Posted on: Aug 13, 2008 2:53:04 PM

Thanks guys. Surprisingly enough, FansOfEd.com is actually available. Tempting...

Posted on: Aug 13, 2008 3:04:42 PM

Will be taking all the suggestions into consideration and testing out a few over the next few days. Look for a follow-up next week!

Posted on: Aug 14, 2008 10:19:20 AM

Buy yourself some Jelly Bellies and everytime you pop them in try to guess the flavor until you master it ! :) keeps me occupied

Posted on: Aug 19, 2008 12:31:19 AM

Actually, I think it was Diana who mentioned classical music. I used that when I was stuck communting through the no-exit-zone on the Merrit a couple years ago. Works!

Posted on: Aug 26, 2008 10:25:27 AM

Have my recent twitter updates reflected negatively on your mind Sean? Well if your commute sucks...I wonder what mine would qualify as..Here's a day in my commute;

7:15am Run out of the house quickly bc Im late.

7:20am Shit stuck behind a school bus, gonna have to drive really fast

7:35am pull into the train parking lot (parked about 1/8 of a mile away from the platform)...shit you have 5 mins to get there...better run.

7:36am Running my ass off with my 10lb bag

7:39am Just getting to the platform as i hear the train pull up...Run right on the train and grab an empty seat.

7:45am Open up a book and begin to read

7:50am A person at the next stop comes and sits next to me.

7:55am Person sitting next to me gets on their cellphone and talking about non-sense. (maybe they'll be off in a few mins no big deal)

8:02am They're still on the phone...ok this is going to be a long conversation.

8:06am Here come the obnoxious hand gestures and the raising of the voice.

8:10am Give up on reading...this person is really getting on my nerves. Going to get up and stand in the vestibule.

8:20am Arrive in Stamford and begin my 1 mile walk to work.

8:25am Local homeless man sexual harasses me.

8:30am walk into the office and head straight for the coffee pot.

The return...

5:45pm Walk fast out of the office and try not to make eye contact...if a conversation is engaged...im never going to catch the express train.

5:46pm Get caught at the longest light ever in history. Im going to have to run to the station.

5:50pm Finally get the walk signal...RUN!

5:55pm Almost get crushed by a city bus running through an intersection.

5:58pm Running through the main doors at the train station...cant slow down...still have to get to the other side of the station...

6:00pm Running up the stairs to the platform..I think i have shin splints...oh shit the train just pulled up.

6:01pm Squish myself into the vestibule...barely any standing room. There are strangers breathing on me and im out of breath. This is going to be a long ride home...

6:35pm Finally get a seat as the train clears out.

6:45pm Arrive at the train station...still have to walk another 1/8 of a mile to get to my car...I need a shower.

7:00pm Arrive at home. Im hungry.

Posted on: Sep 7, 2008 11:50:19 PM

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