Small & medium business

How many hours per week do you spend on bus, car or train commuting to and from work? In one of my previous jobs, my average weekly commuting time was 30 hours. In other words, I was spending getting on for half as much time shuttling to and from work as I was actually in the office.

It turns out that although my commute was on the long side, the average commuter spends an hour a day traveling to and from work - and in London, that rises to 78 minutes. That's a decent chunk of time spent dozing, staring out of the window, and otherwise engaged in things which aren't productive.

For some people, the down-time on a train is actually useful. It's a space when you can decompress from work, relax, and wind down. But if you're running a small business, every bit of time is precious. When Sir Clive Woodward was combining running his own company near London with coaching part-time at Bath rugby club, he ended up getting a driver rather than using his own car. This allowed him to turn the two hour journey from dead time into a productive part of the day.

My commuting experience was similar, if a little less high-flying. I used my hour and a half commute to get a lot of work done - ironically, it was time when I wasn't going to be interrupted, which meant I could focus on the task at hand without being drawn into other business.

So how can you make best use of commuting time? The first thing to do is to ensure that you have the right tools at hand - and that means the right technology.

Computer and connectivity

Far too many portable computers should really be called "luggables". They work well when they are carried from desk to car boot to desk, but when you have to sling them over your shoulders and work on tray tables in crowded trains, they are more likely to infuriate than delight.

For a machine you'll use while commuting, size, weight and battery life are the most important criteria. Consider, too, things like how hot the underside gets - if it's too hot to have on your lap for extended periods, using it on a bus journey will be a painful experience (literally).

If you can afford it, a thin and light laptop like the Apple MacBook Air, Dell Adamo, or HP Probook 5310m is a good option. But, if you don't want to spend a lot of money, consider netbooks too. These small, cheap laptops aren't really suitable as a main machine but make an excellent traveling companion.

The second thing you need is some kind of Internet connectivity, such as mobile broadband, which will allow you to get to email, files and the web while you're on a train. For some commutes, of course, this won't be an option - even the best mobile broadband won't work underground!

Phone

Finally, for the dedicated commuter, a smartphone is essential. It allows you to read and respond to email even when a laptop is unusable - for example, if you are having to stand or if there just isn't room to have a bigger device in use.

But a smartphone isn't just about email. The applications on them can allow you to check all the things you're scheduled to do that day, as well as organise your to-do list. Arriving at work with a clear idea of your agenda and what needs to be done is a big step towards getting much more done in the course of the day. It's the difference between arrived focused, and having to take time to work out what's happening.

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