We’ve been thinking a lot on what truly makes a great career. This morning, as I was driving, it struck me that the infamous worst part of the day—the commute—might not be about the total time spent but rather the quality of the experience.

Curious, I did a quick search and came across research titled ‘All Minutes Are Not Equal’ (DOI:10.1007/s11116-017-9766-2). The findings are fascinating: as shown in the chart below, 60 minutes in gridlocked traffic leaves 80% of people dissatisfied, whereas 60 minutes of smooth driving only causes 10% dissatisfaction!

The takeaway for your next job move? It’s not about how long the commute is—it’s about how it feels.

And in a way, it’s just like work. Progress makes us happy, while feeling stuck doesn’t.