Ding Huang demonstrates the art of paper cutting
Laura Reynolds looks at the habits of exam-weary students
James Tompkinson discusses the benefits of using Facebook for revision
Laura Reynolds provides some tips to help you save
Dress for comfort. Whilst high heels may be seen as essential office wear for the ladies in some professions (and the men in others), they are an absolute no-no for the commute. They can be useful little tools to part the crowd on a bustling station platform (there’s nothing like the clip-clop of a lethal sounding court shoe to make a businessman cower behind his briefcase, and remove his own feet from danger’s path), but heels are generally treated with scorn by fellow commuters. Easily removable layers of clothing are also advisable-waiting at the bus stop is probably chilly at this time of year, but overpacked trains and tubes are usually unbearably warm regardless of the outside weather.
Stay observant and alert. This is not only for the usual safety reasons, but also for noticing useful things. Commuters tend to be robotic creatures of habit, therefore if the end carriage of an otherwise packed train is empty, chances are it will be everyday, so taking the effort to walk to the far end of the platform may be worth it for the extra comfort once you board National Rail’s (over-cramped) finest offerings.
Travel lightly. It sounds obvious, but lugging a massive bag full of unnecessary clutter on and off trains adds extra weight and really slows you down. Plus, over longer periods of time, it can lead to health issues such as a bad back.
Be prepared. 4 minutes here, 10 minutes there, all the waiting time soon adds up. Imagine what you could do with these extra hours each week. The obvious solution is reading a book or magazine, but try being a bit more creative. This article, for example, was written on platform 2 of Camden Town underground station, with 5 or 6 not-so-subtle commuters reading over my shoulder. Another idea is uploading a language tape onto your mp3 and learning a new language.
Talking of reading material, books tend to be a cheaper option than magazines, especially if bought second hand or borrowed from a library or a friend. A magazine at around £2 a day soon adds up, whereas you can get a book for that price that could last you a week or more. Food on the go is also notoriously expensive, so stock up in advance.
Lastly, try your luck. If you are doing unpaid work experience or an unpaid internship, it is worth asking whether you can alter your hours to travel outside of commuter time, as travel fares are often cheaper at this time. Your boss may or may not be sympathetic to your plight, but you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Happy(ish) commuting
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