Kristian Kalsing

When I’m going to the office, it currently takes me about 20 minutes on the bus to get there. I generally try to utilise this time to kick start my day by performing a few tasks on my mobile. Here’s a list of tasks that I can carry out on my handheld just as easily as on my laptop. If you are travelling to work by bus or train and you’re not already using that time productively you might consider these tips.

My mobile happens to be a Windows-based device (Samsung Omnia). However, most mobiles these days will allow you to do all the following provided you have Internet access and a good data plan to go with it. The big question for many is how you type. Do you pick a phone with a traditional phone keypad, a qwerty keyboard or do you jump on the touch wagon? Regardless of which you pick, it will always be a bit awkward. This list is mainly focused on doing things that don’t require much typing, so it really isn’t critical to your productivity how well you can type.

• Reading emails. This is pretty straight forward and increasingly common. But note the emphasis on reading emails. It’s much easier and more productive to write your emails once you’re on your laptop, so unless it’s urgent I generally don’t worry about replying to emails from my mobile.
• Reading RSS feeds. Subscribing to RSS feeds is a must for professionals who want to stay on top of new developments in their area of expertise. I manage all my feeds with Google Reader which also has a nifty mobile browser interface that allows me to read new articles from my handset.
• Listening to podcasts. Many newer mobiles have a neat interface natively that will let you search for podcasts by topic that you can listen and subscribe to. Alternatively you can always manually copy them down to your device when you sync it with your PC. The great thing about podcasts is that I can continue listening while I get on and off the bus and even when I walk down the street.
• Creating outlines for blog posts. I maintain a few different blogs including this one, my professional blog and an internal blog at work. Most of my posts are usually drafted on busses or planes where I have a bit of downtime. And there’s something about travelling which has a positive effect on generating ideas.
• Tuning in to Twitter. If you’re into Twitter, you can tune in on the grapevine of your colleagues around the world and get up to speed on what’s happening right now in your industry and profession. Using a mobile browser go to ‘m.twitter.com’ or install a rich client for a more streamlined experience.

The fact that you can do all this during your commute to work is a great reason to pick public transport over driving yourself. If you absolutely must drive your own vehicle then the podcasts are still a good option. What are your tips for productivity on the go?

Related posts:

1. How you get started with Twitter
2. Work/life integration, instead of balance?

Kristian Kalsing Work 2.0