Tom
In your case, you should consider quickies in the WC.
Or if you’re like me and suffer from motion sickness in about anything that moves, suffer in silence and work for as long as you can until you get too queasy and you need to sit straight and look outside for the rest of the journey...
I second that a small laptop or tablet would be good to have and even without access to plugs, make sure that your battery is always charged prior departure or use accu-pack. Then create hotspot via smart phone on tablet or laptop using 4G, if internet or email access is required for work. Sometimes reception might be bad depending on train’s location. Then fully charge again prior departure back home. Plug headset to smartphone or laptop, connect to your favourite radio station from TuneIn Radio and enjoy da ride. That’s the most efficient way of working on the go.
I scanned through the prior posts and didn’t see any mention of the following. So here goes.
Decide what your work consists of: is it work-work or are you just wanting to be productive?
What is portable and what really needs a desk and lots of space?
Is there anything that can be done on paper alone - i.e. a pile of A4 or just reading/reviewing?
Are there any documents that can be written without reference or do they need a pile of books at hand for cross-checking?
Do you need to sync files with a server or stand alone? Consider things like g-drive for syncing if that’s the case.
Is it pen & paper work or do you really need a laptop? Is it a laptop or a tablet you need?
Do you need multiple screens or is one screen really ok?
Will you need a mouse for efficiency?
Do you need internet? Is this constant use or occasional? Does the computer need to be connected or is using a iphone good enough? Do you want a tablet/laptop with sim card?
Try to categorise your work along those lines then prioritise your workload by where you are. Try to limit more involved tasks to the office and keep more “mobile” friendly work for the train. Try to ensure you use the time efficiently, so if something would really benefit from a mouse or double screen, keep that for the office.
Try to organise the work in the office before you leave, including packing your work bag in a way that makes sure you have everything to hand, so that when you get on the train it is a case of pulling out the work and/or switching on the laptop and getting on with it. Being anal about this also means you will be less likely to forget a key piece of work or material. Nothing worse that having to get set up and finding you forgot a power lead, key document or even a pen, and then having to pack up 5 mins later because you are arriving.
So, I did a dry-run of the commute. Both trains are ZVV old rolling stock, so no buffet car , but with a modern low carriage for wheelchairs. Getting on at an early stop helps, as the first train gets very busy once it hits civilisation.
Near the toilet are paired single seats with a little table, big enough to support an A4 writing pad. I could probably perch a tablet or tiny laptop on there, but I reckon my widescreen laptop will have to stay at home.
There's only one train change, which is also good, and the connection is very comfortable. Not long enough to whip out my work, but plenty long enough to get coffee. Priorities!
In other news, it turns out that my new work schedule incorporates a decent amount of preparation time, so I might be able to use the commute for self-improvement after all!
I've always fancied learning Persian...
Thanks all for the tips! The technological tips and recommendations in particular were very helpful. Time to go shopping! 😁
Are you aware of company spies?
Trains and airports are free game for em.
Not really a problem in my line of work - anyone is very welcome to see me pasting pictures of cats onto phonics worksheets!
Well its your choice to have such a job where you have to sit on a train 5 hours a day
Yes, and...?
I would suggest you look for other work
Sure, if that is so easy...... haven ́t been on the job market lately?
DB, would it be possible that your employer acknowledges that time as working time? At least you would get paid for it
No dogs or ducks?
This year I’m teaching younger kids that I’m used to, and I also have a longer commute which I have to do by car as public transport would take double the time.
I try to be as efficient I can while I’m there: I eat a quick lunch and spend the rest of my lunch break doing my weekly photocopies and marking the bulky items which I don’t want to carry with me, like brochures and notebooks.
I have a 11’’ MacBook Air, which is fast, light and very useful to work wherever you want or need to. I make a hotspot with my phone if I need an internet connection. And I save everything into the Cloud, and thanks to Cloud drive I share my docs with my phone and my home computer, which means that I can start working at home on a document and finish it on the way with my other computer.
I also have all my text books on pdf, which means I don’t have to carry them with me. It certainly helps when you’re preparing your lesson or a test and need to check a few details!
Well there are times in life when you have to take your life into your own hands
I listen to audio books.
But only because I have to keep my eyes on the road.
You really are obnoxious, why don't you just shut up if you've got nothing useful to add to a thread ?
Even worse! So how do you hear the siren of the train before it smashes into your car
There are some people who can listen to audio books and be a safe driver.... even if that is difficult to understand for you.
"piss away a fifth of my life". Sounds like he's really happy there
Thank you for the suggestion.
Now piss off.