Preparation
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Test your commute when schools are in session, as traffic patterns differ from summer breaks.
Traffic can be horrible when schools are in session compared to when they are out.
one person who lived it
Focus on living closer to work to save significant cumulative time over the course of a job.
Small daily savings add up to many days of saved time over several years.
one person who lived it
Test your potential commute during rush hour to judge travel time and stress.
It helps narrow down housing or job searches by ensuring routes are manageable long term.
2 people, independently
Choose a longer route on smooth, wide-lane roads over a shorter route with poor road quality or potholes.
A smoother drive is preferable to a loud, bumpy ride even if it takes longer.
one person who lived it
Check for long-term construction projects that may drastically increase commute times.
Construction projects can last for years and extend travel time.
one person who lived it
Test your new commute during typical rush hours before your first day to check travel duration, road conditions, and parking options.
This helps you gauge the actual time required, anticipate congestion, and locate parking spots, preventing stress from being late.
3 people, independently
Choose a residence east of your workplace to avoid driving into the sun during morning and evening commutes.
Driving into the sun can cause blinding glare, especially on wet roads, making it dangerous and difficult to see lane lines.
3 people, independently
Use a long commute as buffer time to process work stress before engaging with family at home.
allows time to process issues so you can be the best partner/parent when you arrive
- based on one person's experience
one person who lived it
Check online traffic cameras for your route at typical commute times (e.g., Monday 8:30 AM, Friday 5 PM) to judge real-time conditions.
checking can be informative
one person who lived it
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Drive through a prospective neighborhood at night to observe actual activity levels and safety.
Neighborhoods can appear quiet during the day but have issues like noise or gunshots at night.
2 people, independently
Use bike racks on public buses to combine biking and transit for flexibility.
It allows you to get your bike home easily if you prefer not to ride the entire way.
one person who lived it
If you have a long commute home, identify a checkpoint halfway through to spend time at before finishing the drive.
One person found this reduced tedium, encouraged spending at shops or restaurants, and helped them arrive home less stressed or angry for their household.
one person who lived it
Visit prospective homes at different times, such as after work, to judge commute stress levels.
Conditions like traffic can make the experience ridiculously stressful compared to other times.
one person who lived it
Research the job field and highlight relevant academic projects to compensate for lack of direct experience.
One person got an offer by highlighting high school chemistry projects and reading Wikipedia pages on water quality testing after working at PetSmart.
one person who lived it
Aim to be five minutes late rather than fifteen minutes early for job interviews, as arriving too early leaves interviewers nowhere to put you.
interviewers may have no place to seat early arrivals
one person who lived it
Arrive early for your first day but wait in a nearby café or lobby rather than entering the office immediately, as you likely cannot enter without a badge.
allows you to look around and calm nerves; badges are often required for entry
one person who lived it