Gen Z Isn't Lazy – I Commute Four Hours to Work Every Day

The Commute That Defines a Life

Lily-May Edwards, a 24-year-old social media officer at the University of Liverpool, has found a unique way to balance her love for living in north Wales with her professional ambitions. Rather than choosing between the two, she sets her alarm for 05:30 most mornings to make a four-hour round trip to the office.

"I love getting up, I love getting ready, physically going somewhere, and feeling like I've got a purpose," she said. For Lily-May, the early start is more than just a routine—it's a way to feel accomplished and connected.

During the pandemic, working from home became the norm for millions. However, even as the world gradually returned to offices, many employees still maintain some form of remote work. A 2025 survey of 12,000 workers across 44 countries showed that younger workers, particularly Generation Z, are leading the return to the office.

Lily-May’s daily commute is a two-hour journey that includes a 45-minute drive to the train station, followed by a train ride into Liverpool and a final walk to the office. She works in a field that doesn't offer similar opportunities in her hometown, which is why she remains committed to her job despite the long travel time.

"I feel really lucky to live in such a nice little town, so why would I wanna move away?" she said. "But it's still really nice to sort of have a bit of a double life, and I love [Liverpool] as well."

Her morning commute gives her a chance to decompress before the day begins. "From north Wales to Liverpool, it's very chilled, I'm just editing, or I'm reading or I'm just having a little bit of time to decompress before the day actually starts."

While she prefers the office environment, Lily-May does work from home two days a week. She said she would be in the office more often if she lived closer. "I've made some really nice friends where I work as well, and it's nice to see them when I go in."

Lily-May emphasized that hybrid or remote working is not necessarily about being lazy. Instead, it reflects how people value flexibility in their lives. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), workers aged between 30 and 49 are the most likely to have a hybrid working arrangement.

Some business leaders argue that remote work could reduce productivity. JPMorgan's CEO Jamie Dimon recently claimed that "younger people are being left behind" by remote working. However, Claire McCartney from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) pointed out that there is "no compelling evidence" that working from home negatively impacts performance.

McCartney added that flexibility has become more valuable to workers since the pandemic, but there are still benefits to working in an office. "From younger people's perspective, or if people are new into jobs, then there's a lot more support, learning and development together as well, that sense of social community cohesion."

For Daisy Willis, a 21-year-old who transitioned from an office-based role to a fully remote job in the travel industry, flexibility has been a game-changer. "The biggest difference I've noticed is just the work-life balance. I feel like there's so much more flexibility."

Daisy no longer spends over £60 a week on travel from her home in Essex to London. "I also just enjoy my work much more when I know that my life also comes around that as well."

Eleanor Cotton, a 24-year-old marketing executive in Manchester, has a different approach. Her company shares its office with two other businesses, meaning she and her co-workers can only go into the office twice a week. "Working at home is fine, but in the office you've got people and you're speaking to them. You can get so much more collaboration and bits of knowledge that you wouldn't otherwise get when you're working at home."

For now, Eleanor is glad she only has to be in the office twice a week. "The actual work I do is incredible, and it's just about worth the two-hour commute."

Lily-May, who regularly shares reels on TikTok documenting her daily commutes, says she's received a "mixed reaction." Some people call it a waste of time, while others relate to her experience.

"I didn't realise a lot of people do have long commutes, because I thought I was the only one," she added.

As the debate over remote work continues, stories like Lily-May's highlight the complex relationship between work, location, and personal fulfillment. Whether in the office or at home, the key seems to be finding a balance that works for each individual.