A fifth of Brits work on their daily commute, new research has shown.
Instead of catching forty winks or chatting with fellow passengers many commuters are now checking emails, updating spread sheets or writing to-do lists for the day ahead. Indeed, a third of people in the study claim they need to be ‘firing on all cylinders’ the minute they walk into the office and the morning commute gives them the chance to do this.
The study of 2,000 commuters also shows 55 per cent of hard workers also feel a bit smug knowing they have completed some of their work load while some of their colleagues are still getting out of bed.
Andrew Goldwater, Commercial Director at Daisy Group, who conducted the research, said: “The average British commuter spends over an hour a day travelling to work by train or by bus so hosted or cloud technology services that facilitate mobile working means this has become the real start of the working day.”
“The hour-long commute is a long time to be sitting and doing nothing,” he continued. “It is positive news that people can use this time more productively.
The morning in particular is where workers like to get one step ahead, plan what they are going to do with their day, and work through emails. The evening commute is where people are more likely to use the journey as well-deserved ‘down time’.” The study shows a third of people simply like to daydream on their work commute – particularly on the way home.
People watching, listening to music and reading a book are other ways folk like to entertain themselves travelling the same journey day in and day out. A quarter of people reckon they are more sociable as a direct result of commuting every day, and 37 per cent are happy to chat to complete strangers. Listening on other people’s conversations, flirting with members of the opposite sex, and staring at hot looking people also help to alleviate the boredom.
Goldwater continues: “It turns out trains and buses up and down the country are packed with people trying to fill the hours to get ahead of the game at work as well as finding entertainment.
“And because technology has come so far, people can do everything from conducting their weekly food shop to watching a movie or using social networking sites.
“People are traveling with laptops, tablets, smart phones, mp3 players and other gadgets which enable them to carry on as if they were sitting at home or in the office.”
The study also shows a fifth of adventurous Brits have exchanged telephone numbers with someone they met on their commute. A further 14 per cent have flirted outrageously with someone they fancied, while seven per cent went as far as arranging a date. Twelve per cent of Brits used their work commute to quit their job, while 13 per cent applied for new jobs.
TOP 20 COMMUTING PASTIMES
1. Day dream
2. People watch
3. Listen to music
4. Text friends
5. Read newspapers or magazines
6. Read a book
7. Work
8. Listen in on other people’s conversations
9. Chat to fellow passengers
10. Plan what to cook for dinner
11. Use social networking sites
12. Shop online
13. Stare at hot looking people
14. Flirt with people
15. Phone friends
16. Play computer games
17. Sleep
18. Drink coffee
19. Write to-do lists
20. Eat breakfast
