Back in October, a recent grad took to TikTok to voice her opposition to the 9-5 workweek. The young lady, known as Brielle, lamented the challenges that came with her very first job: the lengthy commute to and from the city where her job is, the fatigue she experiences once she’s finally home and the desire to do more, yet lacking the energy to do it.

Having grown up in the “commuter community” of the DMV area (D.C./Maryland/Virginia), I remember how my father would be up and out of the house between 4:30-5 AM to beat traffic. Sometimes he was in Chantilly which was closer to home, but other times he would have to go to Springfield, which is almost like driving from one side of the state to the other, or even go straight into the city itself. He once stayed overnight at the office because a massive blizzard struck the DMV area and obliterated the roads (I think this experience came in handy when his company adopted the alternative scheduling during the pandemic).

Upon my return to Virginia in 2016, I followed suit. I got up close to the same time in the morning and drove to work: from Warrenton to Leesburg, which ranged between 34 and 42 miles (an hour driving) depending on the route; from The Plains to Alexandria, which was 50 miles; and then from The Plains for about 20-30 minutes to the Virginia Rail Express Station (VRE) in Bristow. As a result, I was consistently one of the first people in the office, with my vice president of marketing and admissions either being there already or not far behind having to drive the 45-mile journey from Stafford. My brother-in-law, who introduced me to that organization and is still the library director there, lives in Front Royal. From his home, he would drive the nearly 50 miles to the VRE station in Bristow. From there, he rode the remaining 44 or so miles to the station near work, and then do the same thing in reverse to get home.

To say that I understand Brielle’s frustration–even without knowing the full demographics of her situation–would be quite an understatement: I have lived it, and so have hundreds, if not thousands, of other workers. The work day begins the moment you step out of your house to go to work.

But, despite the challenges of the crazy commute for the 9-5 model, there are strategies to help get the most out of the confined schedule. Here five things that helped me through the 9-5:

Time Management. No matter what, time management will be a constant skill–and struggle–that you will have to endure throughout your life. To get the most out of your days, you will have to outline it, for chores and leisure, and more and more job descriptions are requiring this as a necessary skill. I admit, this will be a lot easier when you are single, so perfect this skill now! Try utilizing the List of Six to help prioritize.

Meal Prep. These days, usually on Sunday, my wife asks what dinners I want this week. Additionally, I receive weekly emails from The Mediterranean Dish of weekly meal plans that we add into the conversation. Start with prepping your Monday dinner on Sunday, i.e. take meat out of the freezer to thaw. If you want it as fresh as can be, you can season or dress it once its thawed and have it in the fridge, ready to pop it in the oven or on the stove when you return. Or, if you have a microwave and don’t mind a quick reheat, leftovers can be a lifesaver.

This preparation will also give you something to look forward to at the end of the day.

Gym Near Work? One benefit you may see in job descriptions is an on-site gym or workout facility. There are also various brands–such as Anytime Fitness or 24 Fitness–popping up around every corner. If you are serious about exercise, whether for maintaining health or training for an event or tournament, there are plenty of options for you to achieve your goal.

Taking the time to exercise closer to work will also make the commute home a lot easier as traffic, hypothetically, will be less congested by the time you leave.

The Mobile Library. My old CEO used to talk greatly about what he called “the mobile university”. What he meant by this, especially for me as I commuted the furthest among his staff, was utilizing the time on the road by listening to material that informs and educates, such as audiobooks and podcasts. Though staying informed on current events–and traffic reports–by listening to the radio are necessary, utilizing the time for podcasts or audiobooks leaves you with a sense of accomplishment, especially if you have been struggling to find the right time to pick up a book.

Mindfulness. Whether you’re stuck in traffic or it’s a long drive, practicing mindfulness is a great way of keeping yourself calm and balanced. Use meditative apps and breathing exercises to help reduce stress. If your are spiritual, commutes are a fantastic opportunity to get some prayer time in. If you are the early riser to beat the traffic and are always in the office super early, that extra time can also be spent on mindfulness.

One Final Thought. The first experience of the full-time job can be both exciting and daunting at the same time. There will be some significant getting-used-to no matter what. But if you are feeling overwhelmed or doubtful of your 9-5 Monday-Friday schedule, try this:

Go out on your Friday evening after work. Go out on your Saturday. Go out on your Sunday. Visit the grocery store, the wine shop, a restaurant. Observe the people you see. Speak with them and be casual.

What will you learn? You may find that the grocery clerk either enjoys the weekend work or is working to survive just like you. You may learn that the waitress taking your order is doing so as a second or third job. That associate recommending a Sancerre to you might just be doing so because he lost his job during the pandemic, that its the one thing he can do to keep medical benefits for his family until he finds the next opportunity back into his career, that that journey has taken longer than expected, and that he is missing weekend time with his wife and son so that you may enjoy your Saturday evening, envious of your 9-5.

My wife often reminds me that happiness is a choice that requires effort. So does the 9-5 whether you like it or not. It’s up to you to make the 9-5 work for you.