Is there a single aspect of our lives that the tech age has not affected? From the moment we wake till last thing at night, and whether at home, at work or somewhere in between, technology has changed the way we live our lives.
The “somewhere in between” aspect is a case in point. In the 20th century, commuter trains were a sea of newspapers, with perhaps a few people buried in books or catching a power nap. Today, there are still a few traditionalists, but the vast majority of people will be intent on their smartphones. Penetration has now reached 85 percent of the adult population in the western world, and there are millions of apps out there just waiting to be downloaded. So which are the most popular for helping you make the best use of your time during the morning and evening commute?
Play to win
Let’s get one thing straight, making the best use of your time does not have to mean logging into email and spending an extra two hours every day doing unpaid work. Treat the commute as time to relax in the morning, and to wind down after a hard day in the evening.
Did you know that around 25 percent of all apps downloaded are games? That’s worlds ahead of the second most popular category, which stands at around 10 percent. Given that the smartphone market is predominantly an adult one, it is logical enough that there are numerous games that are certainly not aimed at kids. These include casino games like Extra Chilli Slot, roulette or poker, where you can not only switch your brain off from the trials of work, but you might even end up with a nice little financial bonus!
Read a good book
Most of us have a list of things we want to read, but we just don’t have the time. There’s no better way to make the commute fly by than by immersing yourself in a good book. The Kindle ereader was one of the first gadgets to really capture the imagination in the digital age.
These days, you don’t need a specific reader, of course, you can simple install the app on your smartphone or tablet. Even better, there are hundreds of books, including some literary classics, that you can download for free. If you feel a little queasy reading on a train, you could instead download Audible and let someone else read to you.
Get yourself organized
Sometimes you might want to do something more productive than just playing games or reading. This is where apps like any.do come into their own. It’s like having your own personal PA, as in addition to providing a means to plan the things you need to do, it will issue you with reminders.
It’s both a help and a stress reliever for people with busy lives. No more getting home and then remembering that you were supposed to collect the dry cleaning or pick up a loaf of bread and some milk from the shops.
