Ah, the school carline, where time stands still, and traffic jams become a way of life. I know the feeling of the never-ending abyss of carline as I spend a lot of time in the car waiting to get my kids from school. It is easy to get caught up in complaining about carline and how long it takes. And maybe you just haven’t been able to time it just right… and then the day you think you have the timing figured out, there is a torrential downpour right at dismissal, so now you are in the car longer than anticipated yet again.
READ: True Crime In the Carline
To be honest, we are all busy and need more time in the day, however, we all get the same amount of time in the day. Sometimes utilizing small bits of time (wow, it really adds up!) and being creative with the time we do have can make a world of a difference in our day. Read on for 10 ways to be productive while you’re stuck in the school carline of a never-ending queue of minivans and SUVs… yet again.
1. Answer emails. Carline offers the perfect opportunity to catch up on all your important emails and delete the ones that don’t matter. While you are at it, you may have time to unsubscribe from some of those junk emails.
2. Clean out the car. Since you are already in the car, you might as well bag up the trash you may see or take inventory of the must-have items in the car to make sure you stay ready for anything. The challenge here is being able to tidy up while also staying in the car.
3. Enjoy the silence. One thing I love about being in the car alone is that I get to really bask in the silence. Something about turning off the radio and enjoying the sweet sound of silence. The silence is a great reset before getting the kids, helping them with homework, and chauffeuring them to their after-school activities.
4. Make a to-do list. Get creative with your to-do list. Instead of just jotting things down, also prioritize the urgency and importance of each task. Who says productivity can’t be fun?
5. Schedule appointments. Use your carline time to schedule doctor appointments and any important meetings.
6. Make a call. Try to call your mom, or your best friend to catch up, and enjoy having a conversation without being interrupted for a change.
7. Read a book. Carline is a great time to actually read a book especially if you have a goal to read more like I do! Instead of reading silently, read your book out loud for variety.
8. Take a nap. Why not catch a quick snooze in the car? Just make sure you set an alarm so that no one will have to scare you out of your sleep when the carline starts.
9. Pray or meditate. Carline is a great time to pray, meditate, or do a devotional.
10. Eat lunch. My favorite thing to do in carline is to eat my lunch. Likely it’s because it’s a meal I won’t be asked to share with one of my kids. The simple thing of eating my lunch in peace is something I look forward to, too.
What’s your favorite thing to do while sitting in the carline? Just remember to stay safe, and keep your car in park. Enjoy your carline adventures!
