Recent studies from the RAC show that British workers have the longest and most tedious journeys to work every day. In comparison to many other countries, the English have the longest trudge to work than anyone else in the European Union. It is estimated that our average journey from A to B takes approximately 45 minutes which is almost seven minutes longer than the combined European average and almost twice longer than our Italian counterparts.

No wonder we feel tired and frustrated and constantly complain that there are not enough hours in the day. Here are some handy tips to help make good use of those wasted hours.

It is only the bus that needs to stop every now and then
Although public transport is not the most attractive form of travel and very few would want to swap their lengthy car journey in favour of a bus; a bus ride does mean that your attention can be put to other things such as completing work tasks or studying. The ride may take longer than commuting by car but at least you can arrive at work stimulated rather than agitated by having to sit through endless traffic jams and fighting for a parking space.

Welcome to the computer age
Invest in a decent laptop for productivity on the go. You could even hijack your home and office PCs and synch your laptop with their contents. This way you really can have a mobile virtual office.

Share the load
Car pooling is fast becoming a popular way to commute to work. It is a bit like public transport but not so cramped and you are guaranteed to arrive at work on time as you are you all heading to the same place! The disadvantage is that you will have to spend longer with that guy in IT who just doesn't understand your humour. Never mind, flip open your laptop or slip on your headphones and you can use this time to organise your life. After all, this is still your 'free' time so you don't really have to talk shop with him until you both set foot in the office!

A little closer to home...
If that long commute is really taking it out of you and your job starts to lose its appeal when you are constantly bound by distance, it may be worth relocating or considering a position closer to home. This may seem like a bit of a drastic thing to do but time is precious and any time which does not have to be connected to work surely has to be worth the saving.
Get on your bike and ride. In Cambridge nearly 30% of people commute to work by bicycle. In Norwich, more and more people walk to work. During the summer months, why not do the same? Not only will you be doing your bit for the environment but you will gain some much needed exercise and blow away cobwebs from sleepy eyes so as you arrive at work, refreshed, rejuvenated and alert. Slip on your headphones or use this time to think about how you can plan your day.

There's no place like home
In today's technologically advanced world, there is no reason why many jobs cannot be carried out from home. It may be worth mentioning this to your boss to see if there is the possibility of managing some of your workload from your home office. Statistics show that employees who work from home have a higher productivity rating and show improved results. This way you really can arrive at the office in your pyjamas without being penalised for it!

Take a day off
Not literally, we all know that this would be impossible. But you could consider working an extra two to three hours per day in exchange for a day off in the week. This will give you a whole day to put your mind on other things, decrease time and money spent on travelling and give you that little bit of extra cash in your pay packet. If you took a day off on a Friday or Monday you could enjoy a long weekend break every week.