Rushing the commute

A commute that only works on the clear-road, no-red-lights version of the route is already too tight. I’d track actual door-to-door times for a week or two, including getting shoes and lights sorted and getting out the door, then plan around an ordinary slower day rather than the fastest run. If you’re repeatedly leaving at the last possible minute, move the departure or morning commitment; don’t make every red light feel like time you have to win back. Traffic still happens. The buffer is there so it doesn’t set your pace.

Traffic is the bit you can’t schedule away; the useful habit is removing the avoidable delay at home. I’d set out shoes, lights and bag the night before, then keep the departure time fixed rather than letting the spare minutes become a snooze allowance.