Work: I love my three-hour commute. Let me explain.

When I told my roommate that I had accepted a teaching job in Brooklyn, her jaw dropped. Research shows that more time spent commuting correlates with higher levels of fatigue and stress; another study reveals that longer commute times are associated with lower job and leisure-time satisfaction. I’d often get distracted by the dishwasher that I really should empty or the couch I could nap on for “just five minutes.” Related From Slate The Psychological Traps That Keep Us Stuck Commuting Via Car Now I have three hours of guaranteed writing time every day, with home distractions out of sight and out of mind. My longer commute allows me to both work and have a little time to read, reflect on the day, or simply close my eyes so that I’m a calmer, more grounded person after I get home. But with my long commute, I have built-in time to fulfill those responsibilities before I get home so that I can just relax once I’m there.