Is there a way to avoid rush hour traffic?

When I was a student I could've cared less about rush hour traffic and I don't even think I knew what it was. Now that I'm working full-time I feel there's no escape and it's what you have to do. There's no worse feeling than working all day, realizing you're gonna be stuck in traffic, cook, find some small window to unwind, and fall asleep. Maybe I'm making too big of a deal about rush hour but something just isn't right with that picture.

What happened to the days where I just got off school and walked home? I know I'm not in school anymore but coming home from a long days work shouldn't be so hectic. The answer should be to find a shorter commute but it seems harder than not . Then the excuse is well you gotta do what you gotta do to pay the bills and survive, we all wish we had an easy commute, get with the program like everyone else. I just have a big problem with that. It's not the way to live.