[andrewzah]

"a commute is forced puts your brain into the mode where you solve creative problems in the background without thinking about them"

I don't think about work outside of work, which includes commuting. I may have an epiphany while showering or talking a walk, but in the car I listen to music or podcasts. That is Me Time, not Employer Time.

[whywhywhywhy]

My point is creativity works by connections happening while your doing autonomous tasks like showering, spacing out on a train or bus.

You might not be thinking about work, but your brain is.

Maybe I care about this more because I'm a designer so, creativity is what I'm judged on.

[andrewzah]

"You might not be thinking about work, but your brain is."

This is definitely true after work sometimes, but a commute is not necessary for this. Walking helps similarly and is healthier, too. For me personally, I tune everything out and listen to music most of the time while commuting, or simply meditate (specifically not dwelling on any thoughts).

"Maybe I care about this more because I'm a designer so, creativity is what I'm judged on."

I'm not sure if you intended this, but this could be read that you're implying that programming is not a creative profession. Which is wholly false.

Part of tackling hard problems is coming up with creative solutions. One absolutely needs creativity and vision to architect larger applications and coordinated services.

I've met accountants that are more creative than some jazz musicians, but the creative work they do is much more abstract and not as intrinsically understandable as a musician that's improvising on a tune.