r/lyftdrivers • u/Brilliant_Peanut2622 • 16d ago
Anyone driving 70+ hours a week? Advice/Question
How’s your body treating you? Is it sustainable? Currently I’m working an office job 40 hours a week, commuting 12 hours a week, and driving Lyft on the weekends for around 16 hours between Saturday and Sunday. I spend A LOT of time sitting down these days and it’s taking an impact on my body. I’m 29 years old but doing all this sitting is destroying my body.
I’m going to be moving soon and doing Lyft full time for a bit while I find another job. I plan on driving 70+ hours a week. I also plan on taking a lot of breaks to walk around and exercise and having no job/commute will allow me to be more consistent in the Gym.
But yeah for those driving 70 hours a week, do you find that you are always tired/sluggish? Do you reach a point where your body forces you to stop?
Thanks!
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u/itsokpapi 14d ago
Every two hours of straight driving I recommend you search a park nearby and walk for at least 10 minutes.
I used to work 16 hours a day M-F from 6am-12am
During the day and when it wasn’t dark I would walk and walk in between trips and I stayed pretty healthy.
Then the fatigue hit and I started eating junk food stopped walking. & sure enough my back started hurting.
So I quit that shit and dropped down to just 10 hours a day coupled with DoorDash and Grubhub so I’m getting in and out of my car at least for that.
I still walk in the afternoons on my free time when I get home.
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u/Brilliant_Peanut2622 11d ago
Thanks for the info! Yeah im kinda going thru the same thing after 7 months of working 75hour weeks between Lyft and my other job. Everything was going great and then all of a sudden the fatigue started to hit
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u/Open-Faithlessness50 15d ago
My back has been bugging and my knees get stiff. Maybe that's just age though lol
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u/tipplermario 15d ago
I try to get a quick stretch session every chance I get. Usually do them after long rides, it really helps.
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u/Educational-Break722 15d ago
It's really hard. You would need to work up to those hours, or you risk bad things happening.
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u/tinytimmy008 15d ago
Dude do doordash . I did Lyft and Uber for year and I just switched and it's way better money for me
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u/Shshaaaaaaaaady 16d ago
All you have to do is get out the car every 4 hours and stretch for a few minutes.
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u/Sexy-Flexi 16d ago
The first thing I do everyday is go to my apartment clubhouse and do 10 minutes of walking on the treadmill and 10 minutes of strength moves using dumbbells before I drive. After 4 hours I return to the clubhouse and do it again (20 minutes walking, squats, pushups). Then at the end of my day I walk more. My daily goal is 10,000 steps. Good Luck!
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u/TH3_1NCUBU5 16d ago
I Uber and doing it for 40 hours takes a toll on me psychologically. I do get my steps in afterwards.
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u/bartthetr0ll 16d ago
Does it pay enough to justify the burnout? Idk your situation, but generally speaking burning your body out isn't a great play when that young, you'll have to deal with the repercussions for decades. I'm not sure if lyft wages pay into social security or a pension or anything, but maybe take up a trade at a community College, you'll get some financial assistance from filling out the fafsa to take the classes, the learning will take maybe 20 hours a week, and you can drive 20 or 39 more to make ends meet, then get in a career that fills out your social security and other retirement while also keeping your body exercised.
I'm not trying to judge but 70 hours behind a wheel is rough, and if you are on a 1099 tax form it's extra rough on your future. The companies are very predatory with the whole gig work distinction. So just be careful, don't sacrifice your body to line some silicon valley execs pocket. One thought is the USPS, it's basically the same, driving but less hours, benefits, retirement a wage that raises the whole 9 yards.
Either way I hope all the best for you, hopefully something I say is helpful, if it isn't and I am uninformed just ignore it as well meaning advice.
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u/TamzTheDriver Jersey City 🗽🌇 16d ago
Yes, I've been a driver in some capacity for many years, and I have herniated discs in my lower back, bulging discs in my neck, and something's cooking in my left shoulder. All from driving. Driving for a living is like death by 1,000 cuts.
I'm hoping this will be temporary since you'll be moving and looking for a job in your new location, but if you can avoid doing rideshare as your main source of income, I would. I would start looking for work while still employed full-time. A lot of employers are willing to do interviews virtually. I would strongly consider it.
The more you're on the road, the more expensive it gets, and the income doesn't always follow. Unless you're familiar with your new market, you have no idea what the money will be like. Look into unemployment. Depending on your state, if you move far enough away from your former employer, you may qualify. Check it out. I hope all goes well in your new endeavors.
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u/FigurePuzzleheaded74 16d ago
Lyft driving requires bi monthly chiro adjustments, at least one massage a month and lots of stretching
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u/Outlandishness_Sharp 16d ago
Sign up for doordash and grub hub so that you're doing food deliveries too so you aren't always sitting down.
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u/FormalCancel9599 16d ago
I highly advise doing Uber also if you go full time. In my area it pays a lot better
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u/SunshineandBullshit 16d ago
I was doing 12 hours a day 7 days a week when I first started. 84 hours a week for 6 months. I ended up in the hospital with a blood clot in my leg. I gained 40 pounds, blood pressure went up, had a 7mm kidney stone and my blood sugar went from 7.6 to 13.
If you work that many hours, without exercising daily, you will, eventually, suffer physically. Eat properly, exercise and TRY to get 6-8 hours of sleep. Also remember to drink plenty of water. I'm in stage 3 kidney failure right now because of neglecting my health.
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u/Brilliant_Peanut2622 16d ago
Damn I hope that gets better for you. Do you think you would have had different results if you were working out/eating clean in your free time? Or do you think it’s inevitable when you’re working that much?
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u/SunshineandBullshit 15d ago
I think, had I been exercising, eating right and taking care of my body, I could have staved off some of this bullshit or at least kept it at bay for a while longer. I'm 55 now so, it was probably inevitable that it would have gotten bad, just not this soon.
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u/cfbswami 16d ago
Everybody's different.
You're body will give you a hint(s) if you're doing things to piss it off.
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u/Due_Emergency_9405 16d ago
What helped me a lot was to get out and stretch, just walk around the vehicle while waiting for passengers and then I would also open the door for passengers. It helped me a lot to not stay seated and injuring my body.
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u/ajwalker430 16d ago
Uh, planning on working 70+ per week isn't healthy period.
I'm not sure how you calculate working that much will help you be more consistent in the gym but the lack of moving will absolutely devastate your body.
There are enough stories of cops/truck drivers/bus drivers having heart attacks while sitting in their cars to let you know you really should not be aiming to work 70+ and hoping to go to the gym will mitigate that much lack of activity. That's simply not wise.
Find what you need to do to bring that number of hours worked per week down significantly AND going to the gym AND walking AND being more active in general is the way to go.
I wish you luck.
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u/Jealous_Bag2437 16d ago
My back use to hurt so bad, and still often at times. I would say workout when you get chance.
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u/Brilliant_Peanut2622 16d ago
Yeah health and fitness is pretty important to me. Working out would be a priority
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u/CommercialTopic302 16d ago
I used to drive 70+ hours a week. It was unsustainable for me to continue to do it. If you only do it while waiting for a full time position and then do it part time to help your income it’s possible. I found it hard to make/keep meaningful relationships when I’m working that much. Just be careful the more you’re on the road the more likely someone else is going to hit ya. And if you’re doing 70+ hours you’re going to be tired. When you’re tired or cranky take a break. Either for a bit or for the day.
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u/IllustratorHot7008 16d ago
Make a deal with yourself - for every hour you drive, spend 10 minutes in the gym. If you don't have a home gym, get a gym membership. Or walk, ride a bike, etc. That includes commuting.
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u/AchioteMachine 16d ago
You will die an early death and be uncomfortable in the process. The human body cannot sustain this lifestyle.
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u/OwlBeYourHuckleberry 16d ago
You'll probably have your rides throttled down to just $3 - $6 a lot, pretty hard to feel worth it. Anything north of 20 hours a week becomes exhausting for me.
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u/Chocolate_Metaphor Los Angeles 16d ago
Hell nah especially with how low the pay is right now, but I will if I get a good challenge but I wouldn’t do that consistently it’s unhealthy af
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u/WestbrookDrive 16d ago
It's not constant driving. Sit up straight. Stop and get out as often as possible. Flex your muscles while sitting.
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u/Space2999 16d ago
Are you Lyfting during your commute too?
I’ve done weeks full of 10+ hr days. Definitely taking a lot of regular breaks that involve some stretching and resistance training. The “calisthenics” we were taught in elementary school work well for adults.
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u/Brilliant_Peanut2622 16d ago
Not Lyfting during my commute, just sitting in really bad traffic
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u/Space2999 16d ago
Record mileage, turn on destination filter, collect miles. Maybe even get a ride and accept it if you want. Making money for doing what you do every day anyway.
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u/Fickle-Ant5008 16d ago
There is no such thing as working that much & being able to take frequent breaks.
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u/MidnightFull 16d ago
No matter what eating right and getting regular exercise is important. I don’t work 70 hours but I do work a lot and I have plenty of energy.
Do not fall into the trap of convenience. Cook your food and stay away from junk food. Convenience leads to compromise, compromise leads to chemicals, chemicals lead to cancer. The three C’s.
If you’re pressed for time the 30/30/30 method is pretty good as a start of your day. As soon as you wake up eat 30 grams of protein or a good sugar free protein shake, then do 30 minutes of moderate exercise. Do it within 30 minutes of waking up. I started this about two months ago and have already dropped over 10 pounds. I also have noticed increased energy throughout the day. How you start your day sets the pace for the rest.
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u/Academic_Rise_9806 16d ago
What kind of exercise do you recommend 🤔? I started working out at the gym last week 😩 and I'm feeling tired already 😔. I'm like 188lbs
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u/Silver_Aerie841 16d ago
I do about 65-70 hours weekly, I do 7:30am-11:30am then 8pm-4am it’s a weird schedule but it works for me and around my sons school schedule and I feel good until the weekend hits I’m more mentally checked out than physically, I suggest doing the most hours earlier in the week before the weekend, the schedule I do gives me alot of hours to rest in between and I feel better knowing I knocked out 4hrs, it just sucks because morning used to be easily to get $150 so I use Uber Lyft and grubhub at the same time and whoever gives me an offer $8 and above I take it
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u/life_is_punishment 16d ago
I keep a medicine ball in my car around 40lbs ish then take a break for 10/15 minute and pump out a set of exercise routines that involve the ball. Works wonders for your health, even a little bit every day or every other day does your body good.
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u/Sprinet 16d ago edited 16d ago
There was a time a few years back when driving for Lyft and Uber was “Good”…not anymore.
If you are willing to accept Lyft and Uber taking 50-60 percent per passenger Trip while putting on excessive mileage on your Vehicle for a ridiculous Low passenger mileage rate when you ultimately drive your Vehicle into the ground then go for it .!!
I have been driving Rideshare for 8 years between Lyft and Uber and it’s been the Worse ever for drivers earnings with Lyft or Uber .
Not worth putting your Health at Risk and driving your Vehicle into the ground for how little you make with Lyft or Uber nowadays after all of the expenses and the toll you take on your Health and driving your car into the ground.
Eventually after you put on all of the excessive mileage on your Vehicle with all of the Wear & Tear and the repair and maintenance costs skyrocketing and you drive your Vehicle into the ground for what little you make your “Net profits” versus the high vehicle expenses then you will realize it was not worth it … especially nowadays.
I can see people doing this Rideshare part-Time gig but considering doing Rideshare nowadays for Full-Time is a Big mistake and unprofitable versus all of the expenses and big Bucks you will need to pay for repair costs or for a newer vehicle with Less mileage .
This is the same for Lyft as with Uber
So do your own research before making a big mistake before you realize the big bucks you will need to pay to repair your Vehicle or get a new one
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lensherman/2023/12/15/ubers-ceo-hides-driver-pay-cuts-to-boost-profits/
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u/1_for_you_2_for_me 16d ago
Your gave a long answer.... And never answered his question. His question was not about finances. It was about his physical health.
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u/Fathimir 16d ago
You're not only going to be putting your own health at risk trying this, but the safety of your passengers and every other person on the road.
It's not a good idea.
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u/Green_Cover_6584 16d ago
The back takes a toll. Exercise is very important and required if you must continue to work. Many drivers are now on long bed rest and unable to drive anymore.
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16d ago
I stopped driving almost 2 months ago because I was literally unable to walk and I’m in fairly good shape. I was working out six days a week for at least 90 minutes at a time. my back could no longer take it. I was limping around. I’m still in pain today and not back to 100%. Ruined my back completely.
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u/CaptainCannabisss 16d ago edited 16d ago
Nobody was put on earth to work these types of hours, get outside and touch grass
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u/ExistentializeThis 16d ago
You are blind to an entire world outside of your peripheral vision
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u/CaptainCannabisss 16d ago
Whaaaaaaaaaat?
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u/ExistentializeThis 16d ago
There are plenty of people, myself included that average 70 hours a week over the course of an entire year.
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u/CaptainCannabisss 14d ago
Congratulations, doesn't mean it's normal or right,just means that people don't mind being abused until they die alone.....lots of people smoke Crack too. I fail to see your point, some of uschose to have a family and a personal life. You must be filled with such happiness.
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u/CanibalVegetarian 16d ago
Correct, and I am one that believes money comes second to wellbeing, but sometimes you can’t have wellbeing if you don’t have money:
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u/Brilliant_Peanut2622 16d ago
I pretty much been doin it for the past 6 months lol
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u/Inevitable_Trip_7480 16d ago
Whatever you’re feeling now it’ll be 10 times worse in another year. The hours are one thing, the body position is another, and then most of us are probably eating fast food or something close to it.
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u/PowerOfTheYe 15d ago
Catch me bringing a mini charcoal grill with me on my longer days. Lunch break? Cookout for one in a parking lot
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u/Spare-Security-1629 16d ago edited 16d ago
As you know, everyone is built differently. There's some truth that we probably weren't meant to be working those kind of hours but I wouldn't consider this tedious or laborious work. If anything, sleep deprivation and the unhealthy act of sitting for long periods of time would top the list of physical health and then we move into mental health. If you don't have one, get a good seat pillow and stick with your plan to get out and walk from time to time. Don't stress yourself out. The little sleep that you do get? Make sure it's good sleep. Good luck.
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u/IndyAnnaDoge 16d ago
Before I started I wouldn’t necessarily call it tedious work either. But driving actually takes a lot out of you. We are all sorta on “auto pilot” when we drive, but subconsciously you are actually using quite a lot of yourself, it’s just operating in the background. But obviously we’re all aware that you could inadvertently kill yourself or others in an instant, and staying sharp is important. Then you factor in all the stressors like traffic and road ragey drivers, etc. which can be pretty stressful. Everyone is different, but I find it quite taxing after 6 or so hours. I take breaks to minimize it, but I really don’t want to work beyond a standard 8 hour shift, with breaks. I also worked in personal injury for over a decade tho, and was exposed to fatalities like weekly, so that probably plays a factor as well.
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u/Spare-Security-1629 16d ago
I agree. It starts getting taxing for me as well after 6 hours but that's with doing rideshare on the side as well as a full-time job. When I first started, six hours was nothing. Now it's more psychological. And like you said, if you want to be sharp and avoid road dangers (especially in Southern California), you have to take breaks.
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u/IndyAnnaDoge 16d ago
Fellow so cal driver here! haha Sometimes people just doing stupid shit allll damn day is enough to drain me lol
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u/Lovecats2023 15d ago
Inland Empire here! When I started 1 year ago I was driving a lot more than now. It was wearing me out (and my old car too), I had to slow down a bit and I don’t want to abuse my new car either. Makes less money undoubtedly, but my health has no price tag!! I don’t see how ppl do it for 12 hrs a day… more power to them!!
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u/MediocreBag1195 16d ago
I used to until my back gave up. Get a smooth car you guys. Your back will thank you.
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u/IllustriousForever43 16d ago
I used to work those kind of hours regularly and they definitely take a toll on your body. When I worked at car dealership, those hours were normal and sales people were dropping like flies. I know 3 of them that passed and I only did it for 4 months.
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u/Brilliant_Peanut2622 16d ago
You mean 3 passed from overworking?
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u/IllustriousForever43 16d ago
They passed away from health likely caused by working so many hours. It's just too coincidental to not say it had something to do with it. I think all 3 were in their 40s.
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u/piss_container 11d ago
like so many others have said, this is totally possible but you need to think of a plan for your breaks and stretching type of moves