Car vs Train – use time more effectively


SBB TrainWe Swiss are champions in using trains. In 2009 the average Swiss has made almost 50 train rides and traveled over 2000 km by train. I used to be a heavy train user, but them switched job which made the train less convenient (so I thought).

Day after day I get stuck in traffic (it's actually not that bad as it sounds), have to wait at the red light and listened to radio. I actually caught myself listening to DRS 1 (because they bring interesting contributions and have good news). If you had told me that 10 years ago I would have laughed at me. Well, is there anything else to do in the car? Pondering and listening. Oky, I was/am pretty well informed about what's going on in the world, about what's happening in Japan and Lybia. I guess I could use the time to make some phone calls, but who are you going to call at 7:30 am?

The "office train"

After all, it's just wasting time. That's why I love the train. Sit in get out. Things to do in the train… computer and internet access, it's almost like the office. Here's what my train routine would look like (30 minutes):

  1. Quickly (not more than 7 minutes) flip through the newspaper "20 minutes" (yes you can easily get it done in that time).
  2. Switch train
  3. Open computer, answer unanswered mails that came in over night
  4. Use the last minutes to sort priorities on what I'm going to do in the office at first and most important
  5. Get out

Once in the office I can just start working not having to worry or be "scared" about what could come in via e-mail. Day starts very relaxing. Loving it. Now I just have to figure out a way to make this easily work… as the way back home is not as convenient.

And if you are really stuck to a car. There is a pretty funny list of things to do in a car 🙂