When accepting a dream job offer, we are often ready to turn a blind eye to various minor drawbacks. One might get dizzy with success and not pay attention to the details that are bound to cause inconveniences soon after they ground themselves and get accustomed to the new position. One of these pitfalls might be long commuting which automatically implies early morning awakenings and more stressful ways back home. We are well aware of this case and have come up with a few ideas that will make you think that a longer commute is a real blessing in disguise!
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You should not put the cart way before the horse and make conclusions until you have checked your new route yourself. Find out which type of public transport might be used instead of the main one, what obstacles typically show up on the way and the likelihood of traffic jams. To be aware is to be prepared, and it can prevent you from making the wrong choice.
Step two – try your commute out because a picture is worth a thousand words. We recommend doing it before the actual day of the interview, without haste and vanity. Just check if you really enjoy the long process of traveling, focus on your emotional responses, and pick up on the things which might irritate you. An excellent idea would be to jot everything down because these notes will definitely come in handy when making final takeaways.
Sylvester Stallone once said, “Plan B. You’ve always got to have a plan B.” Don’t neglect an opportunity to discover better options. Other people might have thought the same way, say, there is the most popular route, many people have picked it, so why would I look for other ways? Depending on the means of transport you’re going to use, check how else you can get to your destination, and don’t write a route off if it takes five or ten minutes more, as it can be compensated for a less stressful environment.
Some companies shoulder this responsibility and allocate the money required for commuting purposes. If your future company is not one of them, you need to figure out how much money you will have to spend on getting to your workplace monthly. Depending on these calculations, you can take further steps, either still try discussing it with the employer or actually reject this job opportunity and search for other ones where commute expenses aren’t going to turn into an issue.
Is it a temporary workplace or a life-long commitment? This fact may well do its part when making a choice. It is psychologically easier to handle something annoying when you know it is just a temporary inconvenience. On the flip side, a few apples can spoil the whole barrel. Ignoring and experiencing minor irritants are highly likely to affect your welfare significantly and rob your joy of being.
Try this one if you are still on the fence about your long commute choices. You should go back to basics and recap your initial goals regarding the workplace. Was a close location your priority from the very beginning? If not, why would you bother about it now? One possible reason might be that a long way to work is just a lame excuse, and the underlying reason lies in something else. Just check your genuine goals.
Oh, you have more than one offer? Why were you keeping silent? Another company might not have impressed you that much at the beginning, but why not take a good look at it once again? Even if it isn’t so prestigious, the conditions might be really similar, and the issue of longer commuting time has a high chance to become moot. Less popular companies might just be new on the job market and, moreover, you will have a nice opportunity to make your own contribution to this company’s reputation in the future.
The advantages have outweighed all the disadvantages, and you have accepted this job, despite the necessity to commute longer. Instead of frittering away, seize this opportunity and do something you’ve always lacked time for. For instance, if you travel by public transport, use this time to watch a movie you have constantly been putting off lately. Listening to a book, podcasts, or somebody’s speech can work well instead if you are at the wheel. Basically, you are enabled to do anything due to our high-tech era and all available Internet. Your desire is the key.
A ship will sail the way you name it. Don’t think of your journey as a part of your workday; think as if it is your spare time. When we are at home, we are bound to get involved in chores, kids, and pets. This is your chance to get rid of all the distractors and focus on what you are eager to do.
If your trip to work gets you bored out of your mind, make it fun! Imagine you are a secret agent on a mission, and there is a bomb that is programmed to blow the whole world up if you don’t manage to reach a secret destination (your office) on time. Does it sound spicier now? If it is too much for your liking, just start a flirting game with somebody around you. Who knows, an innocent pastime may well turn into something worthy.
It often happens that your favorite playlist has been worn out and doesn’t bring you joy anymore. Why not make up a new one while commuting? Nothing will distract you from discovering new pieces of music that will touch your heartstrings and make your soul sing again.
This one may sound rather trivial and predictable; however, it makes sense. People who have tried it out will definitely be of one mind with us. Those who haven’t – you are losing so much, guys. If you aren’t really a keen reader but strive to enrich your mind, audiobooks will live up to your needs. They develop, entertain, and kill time while commuting, whether you are doing it either by public transport or a private vehicle. Two birds with one stone, perfect!
