Some of you may be fortunate enough to only have a 10-15 minute drive to work, however, others like myself, have a 40 minute drive one way. When you add inconvenient factors into the mix such as rush hour traffic, construction, gasoline prices, and lack of sleep from the night before, you begin to wonder if the commute is worth it. So, how do you know if and when your commute to work is worth it? Let me explain.
As an Account Manager, this is the number one factor I hear individuals contemplating when deciding to leave a job or make a career change. First, you must ask yourself how much you like your job. Can you tolerate “X” amount of time with the aid of an iPod or books from Audible? Does Talk Radio drive you crazy or keep you sane? A commute that is 30-60 minutes may be easy for one person, but may be a terrible burden for another. The average individual simply takes their salary and factors in commuting costs, such as gasoline and car maintenance. According to Salary.com, $1,483 per year is the average amount an employee incurs in “commuting gas” cost each year.
Here are some other variables you may want to consider when thinking about making a commute:
1. What kind of opportunity is it? You must put into consideration that this may be a life-changing career move. If the commute is the only thing holding you back, why not take it?
2. Do you enjoy or want alone time? A commute is in other words “private time.” You have this time to recharge and plan out your day in your head. This is your time to think.
3. Are you competitive with yourself? Commutes can be a game. For example, you can play the “gas game” with yourself and see how far you can go on a single tank of gas by watching your gauge. (Some fathers and husbands would not recommend this, especially if you’re driving at night or in bad weather.)
One thing I would not recommend is talking on the phone because distracted driving is far too dangerous to risk your own life or another life.
How did I decide my commute is worth it? I live in a small town roughly 30 miles outside of Omaha. Anyone living outside of the city is used to driving many miles to get anywhere. I was given an opportunity at C&A Industries and I jumped all over it, regardless of the long commute Monday through Friday. People constantly make comments like, “I can’t believe you drive that far to work” or “It just doesn’t seem logical. The amount you spend on gas and miles on your car…” or “Why don’t you just move to Omaha?” Those are all things I’ve taken into consideration, but at this moment, those factors are not ideal.
Over time, I have come to enjoy my commute because I use that time to wake up in the morning. I get to listen to my favorite music on Sirius XM radio and catch up on news from the talk radio shows. Also, this is my time to think about anything and everything. I’ve learned to think optimistically about the commute. In fact, I’m so used to it I would hate to change it! So, if you had an opportunity of a life time with a longer commute, would you take it or leave it?
Sydney Stander
Sydney joined AurStaff in June 2015 and works as an Account Manager. She enjoys pairing both candidates and clients to make the perfect match to benefit every party. Hearing the joy in their voices when the perfect match has been made is such a rewarding feeling leaving work each day. Outside of business hours, Sydney enjoys spending time with friends and family; whether that consists of trying new restaurants, touring wineries, boating in the summer, or simply gathering around a bonfire.
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