The time commuting to work

This post was partially inspired by a post I saw about a change in habits, adjusting to a new work schedule.

What caught my attention was the last paragraph:

One positive: I’ve taken to public transit one day a week (will be twice, in the new year) and I find it a joy. I say that unironically! It takes twice as long to get to work, but I’m able to focus on what I’m listening to, whether it’s music or podcasts or - lately - audiobooks. I don’t get that kind of time in the office, the car, or at home.

I have a pretty decent job, and it comes with free bus transport! Awesome, since I don’t have to get a car at all.

However, the main complaint I had when I started was—you can probably guess—the time lost during the bus commute, the route is long and I am the first (and last) stop, every single day.

The amount of time I work summed up with the amount of time moving around, equates to literally half a day. Hours of my life where I am not able to stay at home—the audacity.

For a while, I saw this as a complete waste of my time, I had a bit of a breakdown early on, I felt like I was stolen away from what I used to have before during school and the like, and I thought “this is it, I am going to be doing this forever.”¹ I just hate change.

Over time, it hit me. I can do almost anything I would want to do while on the bus, and I can do a lot of stuff too when I arrive early to the office.²

I can play videogames, I can listen to podcasts or music, I can read my books, I have even written short blogposts early during the commute. And of course, I can simply have a quick nap if I feel like it. Lately, I get to the office early, and use the time to practice cursive writing with my fountain pen! I fill almost a whole sheet before the shift begins.

Pretty much everything I would be doing at home except thinker with my Linux machine or laying in bed.

Best part? I don’t get distracted by anything my family would need me for, and I can’t feel guilt about doing the house chores I should be doing—because I literally can’t!

The simple fact of not needing to be worried about whatever is on the road is a nice bonus too.

The way back to work feels a little heavier, I just want to get home as soon as possible. Thankfully, a coworker now gives me a ride to the closest public bus stop. It’s not free like the work route, but 8 pesos (8 MXN = 0.4 USD) save me an hour of my time—which I can spend on the gym instead. I have to get another bus from there to my home, but it’s more than worth it, although sometimes I’ll walk home instead—half an hour of extra excercise.

If I ever have to get a car, I will have to pay for gas, maintenance, and insurance, so I’m also enjoying not doing that right now.

Maybe some of my time is being wasted, and maybe I could have a different, more “productive” schedule, or one that allows me for more free time than what I have right now, but well, I just try to get by, and be grateful for it.

There’s some people out there who don’t seem to have time to play videogames, read books, get into some hobby, or have a website to share their thoughts in the way I can afford to. Maybe they’re busy, or have more “adult responsibilities” than a single guy living with his parents, I don’t know.

There’s also those who seem to have everything figured out, who keep on reading hundreds of books and playing dozens of games and going around the world all the time, and I just can’t understand what is even going on, how do they get so much time, what kind of job do they have?

It’s easy to be jealous, or to be critical, of what I’m not familiar with. I may think “how can they only think about work?” or the opposite, “how do they get so much free time?” A lot of it may be just influencers, a lot of it is people who may simply enjoy working. We are all different, you know, “the thief of joy…”

I’m just glad that despite it all, I still have time for myself.