7 Productive Things You Can Do While Waiting in Long Lines

Between waiting in carpool lines to picking up your kids, riding the train to work, sitting in gridlocked traffic, and standing in line at the DMV, the average person spends a lot of time waiting for things to happen. What if you could put that time to use? We’ve got a few good ideas for you:

1. Give Mobile Learning a Try

Are you familiar with e-learning? It’s the segment of the learning industry that focuses on online and mobile learning. Whether it’s continuing education for a certification you have, a college degree, or merely a casual course on a topic that you’re interested in, chances are there’s some sort of online learning opportunity available. And thanks to new technology, many of these courses can be accessed on your mobile device – while you’re waiting in line!

2. Read a Book

How many books do you have stacked up in your office or loaded onto your Kindle that you keep telling yourself you’ll get around to one day? Well, one day is today. Let’s say you spend 30 minutes “waiting” every day. That’s three and a half hours per week. If you’re an average reader, this means you could finish a 300-page book every two weeks. At that pace, you could read nearly 25 books a year. Pretty amazing, right?

3. Brainstorm Creative Ideas

Sometimes you just need some time to think. This is especially true for people who frequently lose focus and daydream while they’re working. If you can get these ideas out of your head while you’re waiting around, you’ll probably be able to focus more once you return to work. Next time you’re in a line, grab a pen and paper and start jotting down creative ideas that come to mind. You can then reference them at a later date.

4. Practice Your People Skills

When you’re waiting in a physical line with other people, you have a wonderful opportunity to practice your people skills. Pick someone and start a conversation. The majority of people will be happy to have something to do. If small talk isn’t your thing, this is a good chance to break out of your comfort zone.

5. Make a Grocery List

How much easier is grocery shopping when you have a list? You’re able to stay focused and typically don’t end up spending as much. But the reason most people don’t make good shopping lists is that they don’t have time. Well, here’s your opportunity. In five or ten minutes, you can make a list and get on with your day.

6. Return Emails and Phone Calls

If you’re a busy person with lots of responsibilities, emails, phone calls, and text messages can pile up in your inboxes. What better time is there to catch up on responding than when you’re waiting in line? By the time you get back to work, or wherever you’re going, you’ll feel a huge sense of relief.

7. Catch Up on the News

While the news is usually nothing but depressing stories, you need to at least be aware of what’s happening around you in order to have topics of conversation to discuss with friends and coworkers. Spend your time in line reading news stories and catching up on current events. News can easily be found online, on social media, or on apps like theSkimm.

Stop Wasting Time!

As long as you live, lines will be a thing. You’re always going to have to wait for things to happen, so why not learn how to maximize this downtime? Thankfully, it’s really not that hard to make good use of your time. Have a plan and take care of business!

Featured photo credit: Shutterstock.com via shutterstock.com

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