Short commute, studio apartment living tips for the middle-aged woman?

August 14, 2015 9:44 AM

What life hacks should I consider for studio apartment living with almost-no-commute to work? I have spent most of my adult life living in the burbs, but next month I'm moving into a 515 sq ft studio apartment 10 minutes away from work. I've haven't lived this close to my workplace since my college years.

My current apartment is a 1-bedroom 862 square foot apartment in the burbs; I split my time between the apartment and on most weekends I'm at our (way too large) single-family house with the spouse and kids, 2 hours away. So it's not like I'm trying to cram my entire life into a studio apartment.

I am already thinking of ways to downsize furniture, and could probably use help thinking about ways to make the adjustment to the smaller space, but what I'm really interested in are tips or ways to think about my impending lack-of-commute. I can totally go home for lunch! I can conveniently use the office gym at odd hours and then shower at home! I can... uh... Yeah, that's about all I can come up with.

My biggest annoyance might be that I will no longer have laundry machines in my apartment, and I'm thinking about trying to do all my laundry over the weekend in the family house. I'm already used to bringing large quantities of leftovers with me from weekend family meals, to avoid cooking/eating out at the start of the week.

My new place is 2 blocks from a Safeway (grocery store), and I'll walk right by that grocery store as part of my commute.

I will have a reserved parking spot for my car, and access to mass transit (easy walk to the Metro and DC Circulator bus lines).

I am not as interested in furniture / decorating suggestions, although this previous question gave me lots of food for thought.

posted by QuantumMeruit to Home & Garden (20 answers total)

I love having a walking commute to work. Some things to think about...
---When you're that close, it can feel like you don't need to leave time for your commute (sounds silly, but I have really fallen into this trap!). So, set an alarm to leave, say, 15 minutes before you need to be at work so your start time doesn't slide later and later (unless that's not an issue at your workplace).
--Think about what clothing you'll need/want for making a walking commute comfortable in a place with seasons (which I assume you are from the mention of the DC Circulator). During hot months, I leave sweaters at work (our office is air conditioned to a really low temperature) so I can walk with less clothes on. During cold months, I wear serious boots/snow pants/down coat so I'm still have feeling in my toes when I get to work.
--It can feel weird to not have as much of a transition time between home and work. I find this especially tricky in the mornings. When I can get my act together, I enjoy leaving a little early and spending 15-20 minutes at a coffee shop (or drinking coffee in a nearby park) before going into my building.
posted by rainbowbrite at 9:54 AM on August 14, 2015 [3 favorites]

Does the studio have a full kitchen or an efficiency kitchen? If leftovers won't take care of everything and you plan on cooking in the apartment, the size/amenities of the kitchen might limit what you'd normally do, so keep that in mind.

As for the laundry situation, make sure you have an easy-to-transport hamper and a garment bag to facilitate the to/fro. Consider getting a mini portable washer for emergency situations and have a little stock of pre-treaters so stains don't set in if you can't get to them for a few days. Maybe keep an iron and small ironing board in the apartment to spruce up anything that might crumple on the commute in.
posted by phunniemee at 9:55 AM on August 14, 2015 [2 favorites]

My biggest annoyance might be that I will no longer have laundry machines in my apartment, and I'm thinking about trying to do all my laundry over the weekend in the family house.

I sometimes think not having in-suite laundry is a feature. If you take your laundry to a laundromat, you can do all the loads at one time, get it done and out of the way in a short time span. If you take it home, you'll have to do it one load at a time throughout the time you'd probably rather be spending with your spouse and kids. Plus it means transiting your wardrobe back and forth and increasing the risk that you will leave behind something you intended to have with you to wear to work.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:59 AM on August 14, 2015 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Clarifications: It's a full kitchen, with more storage and counter space than my current place. I'll have access to ample laundry machines in the basement.
posted by QuantumMeruit at 10:02 AM on August 14, 2015

I've had laundry in the basement for the past few years. It's not that bad (especially compared to a laundromat). Consider that there might be "quiet hours" when you can't do laundry (like 10pm to 8am).
posted by radioamy at 10:06 AM on August 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

I am having a hard time understanding what you see as the problem with basically not having a commute, can you clarify? Because that is an ideal situation for most people.

As far as the studio - lacking a clear separation between sleeping and living areas is really the main irritation, from my POV as a maturing woman living in a studio. (Obviously, the ways of dealing with that are all design-related).

Oh - is it that you think there won't be a separation between your work and your life? In that case, do some activity right after work (e.g. go to the gym, or go for a nice walk).
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:08 AM on August 14, 2015 [4 favorites]

One thing that will amaze you in six months is that you'll get so used to the tiny commute that walking home from work for something like lunch will still seem like a chore.

But really, the biggest asset you're getting back is commute time and not having to deal with traffic, so less stress. Take the long way home on a nice day and enjoy yourself - it's really nice to have the chance to do that without really worrying about having to *get* somewhere.
posted by dinty_moore at 10:11 AM on August 14, 2015 [4 favorites]

If you have plans in the evening, it's nice to be able to stop home first to change clothes or have a little downtime.
posted by treachery, faith, and the great river at 10:13 AM on August 14, 2015

As for laundry in the basement - be considerate of those who have apartments right next to the laundry room and probably can hear it, get your stuff on time, check to make sure you have enough quarters before you start (if it's coin operated), and if you're on a higher floor, you might want to see if the machine is available before you get all of your clothes down. It's kind of a pain in comparison to having something en suite, but I'm not sure that it would be worse than going to a different location to do your laundry.
posted by dinty_moore at 10:16 AM on August 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

It's true-- after a while I got so used to the walk to work that I was like "Pffft, 15 minutes is WAY too long to go home for lunch, I'm totally going to eat a burrito here." I also found myself reluctant to do anything not in walking distance of my house, which is both good and bad. Also seconding setting an alarm for when you have to leave-- it'll make you late for a solid year as you assume it's faster than it is. Time your walk.

You will get to know everything on your route, which is nice. Be prepared for neighbors to call out to you-- "Hey, it's walking guy! You must live around here!"
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:18 AM on August 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

A 10-minute commute is plenty of time for pre- and post-work adjustment. I used to walk from the House side over to the CNN building in back of Union Station, and it was very nice. Years before, I walked a block or two to the House, and also *around the corner* to another Hill workplace. I could see the latter building from my teeny one-room apartment.

Now, I walk across the room in my larger one-room apartment; less than optimal, regardless of how great some think working at home is.
posted by jgirl at 10:20 AM on August 14, 2015 [5 favorites]

Consider looking for third spaces -- coffee shop, library, museum, park -- that's aren't far away, but also aren't on your walking commute. That'll map out your daily travels in triangles instead of a straight line.
posted by holgate at 10:23 AM on August 14, 2015 [2 favorites]

Keeping your space tidy will matter more in a smaller space, but you'll have plenty of time to do some tidying every day because your commute is so short.

Are you worried about having extra time on your hands? You could take up a new hobby or a new form of exercise (especially exercise classes after work). You can hang out with friends. Happy hours are easier because you can just walk home from them. You could walk home, get in the car and head out somewhere for a hike or a picnic dinner after work until the seasons change. You could skype with your spouse/kids.

Living near a grocery store is awesome. You can buy fresh things on your way home every day if you like.

I wouldn't go home for lunch because I wouldn't want to leave again, but that's just me. Like it takes emotional energy to get out the door each time I do it. I also like having a strong boundary between work and personal life, which extends to my living spaces. (I don't like working from home for instance.) Something to consider.
posted by purple_bird at 10:37 AM on August 14, 2015 [2 favorites]

When I had a walking commute, I consciously walked home at about half speed. After rushing to work and rushing to do work and rushing to do errands and just generally being in a lathered hurry, plodding home at my own pace felt like a luxury.
posted by Sauce Trough at 10:39 AM on August 14, 2015

i was in your position once and by far the biggest issue was being lonely / bored on an evening. for me, the solution was to work longer hours for less days, and then go home a day early. probably not what you are looking form but keep it in mind as a possible option...
posted by andrewcooke at 10:41 AM on August 14, 2015

I would also be worried about too much time. When my spouse is away, reading and watching tv is much more lonely, even if we aren't interacting.

Is there anyway that you can help your spouse from so far away? Can you set up Skype dates with your kids, help them with homework? Not bringing laundry home with definitely improve the quality of time you have on the weekends. I would hate to travel all the way home just to do laundry, or pass it off for someone else to do.
posted by Gor-ella at 11:21 AM on August 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

Seconding third spaces (preferably free ones!) and a lingering evening commute as a way to transition away from work and not get tired of your smaller space. I like calling people on the phone on my way home, which helps with the lonely/bored issue if you don't have plans and can help with the leaving the office. This could be a good daily check-in with your spouse (as long as you're careful not to make it all about logistics, which could just be more exhausting.) The biggest thing to avoid is just having the ten-minute walk be a gap between being on the computer at the office and being on the computer at home; come up with interesting evening routines inside and outside of your apartment to take advantage of the additional time. Maybe that's a long walk, or working out, or cooking interesting stuff. I would take advantage of living in the city - walk places, go to cool events, etc.
posted by earth by april at 11:42 AM on August 14, 2015 [4 favorites]

Get a decent portable shopping cart for your trips to the market and other errands. Once I moved to a walkable neighborhood I found myself walking further and further before i opted to use the car. Really, save your shoulders.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:47 PM on August 14, 2015

When you live so close to work, you see many of the same people on your on days and off days. You'll see other coworkers/clients who live nearby, shopkeepers and clerks, dog-walkers and neighbors, police and teenagers, day in and out. They'll see when you look your professional best, and when you tumbled out of bed with bedhead and bleary eyes and threw on pre-worn sweats to get coffee. Just saying - plan accordingly. And be nice to the neighbors and locals. They are your whole daily life now. good relationships help.
posted by Miko at 6:09 PM on August 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

I wouldn't say you need a life hack for having an apartment that close to work...that is the life hack!

However, some things you can do which normal not-close to home peons can't, are:

* Go home for lunch, eat something you set slow-cooking in the AM to find it freshly cooked and piping hot.

* If your work is amenable to it, pop home to work on things where you need a little more quiet and concentration. You're only 10 minutes away and can easily pop back if needed!

* If they're fine with the above, you can then do things like pop home for lunch, put laundry on, unwind a little, work from home for a couple of hours while the drying happens, fold and hang up the clothes then head back in.

* Less glamorously, pop home and do apartment chores at lunchtime. Not a ton of fun, but frees up the evenings for things of more interest, especially as you won't have the weekend to keep the place tidy.

* Prep the chopping for a stew or other one pot meal prior to going to work, come home and throw it in a slow-cooker at lunch, eat one and portion into freezer meals when you get home for nights when you're not out.

There's tons of other possibilities, but they're all basically just variations on exploiting flexibilities this gives you that others don't.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 7:10 PM on August 14, 2015