The Toll of Commuting: A different kind of rush hour
While most commuters are already at work, one New Jersey restaurant manager begins her trip into Manhattan for an afternoon-to-night shift, proving not every commute follows a 9-to-5 schedule.
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When most commuters are already settled into their workday, Kara Wilson is just beginning hers.
Nearly five days a week, Wilson boards the 12:58 p.m. NJ Transit train at the Watchung Avenue station in Montclair, heading into Manhattan for her job as a beverage manager at a restaurant in NoHo.
Unlike the packed trains that define the morning rush, Wilson's commute is much quieter.
"It's lovely. Yeah, empty," she said. "This is a typical day. Like, I get my own seat."
Working in the restaurant industry means her schedule looks very different from a traditional 9-to-5. Most of her shifts run from the afternoon into the evening, with weekends and holidays often included.
"I really like it," Wilson said. "I think it's a very unconventional schedule for what people consider to be the typical 9-to-5. Mine is usually 2:30 to 10:30, so it's definitely different."
Her commute doesn't end when she reaches New York Penn Station. From there, she transfers to the subway before making the final walk to the restaurant.
By the time she arrives at work, she's already logged plenty of steps — and she'll spend the rest of her shift on her feet.
"Predominantly, I'm running around the restaurant," Wilson said. "I'm grabbing bottles for service. I'm stocking things. I'm on my feet all day, so I'm always looking at how I can cut down the amount of steps I'm doing in the commute because I'm already getting my 10,000 steps."
For Wilson, the biggest challenge isn't the distance — it's the train schedule.
"I wish there was a little bit of a happy medium instead of trains just once an hour," she said. "If I miss that train by a minute, then I have to wait another hour."
Despite the long journey, Wilson says she's come to appreciate the slower pace of her afternoon commute.
"On my way in, I'm at peace," she said. "It's great, and it actually gets me focused for my day."
Wilson's commute may not fit the traditional image of a rush-hour trip to work, but for her, it's a routine that reflects the unique hours of life in the restaurant industry.
