What do you do with little scraps of time? Do you wile away your time on your smart phone scanning Facebook or Twitter? Or do you do something useful that you need to get done anyway? I spend a fair amount of time waiting to pick kids up from school, sports, or other events. I really hate wasting time, so I’ve worked to fill up those little scraps of time and make good use of them.

Exercise – When standing in line or waiting to cross the street, I try to do a few exercises – toe raises, calf raises, chair pose, or hip circles. Nothing too flashy, like jumping jacks or push-ups ☺ Although, I have been known to do wall sits at Starbuck’s (almost every morning). I also do some exercises in the car while sitting at a stoplight. These exercises are more like leg lifts or stomach crunches. In any event, these little movements make me feel better if I can’t get to my regular exercise first thing in the morning and even if I do, they augment what I have done already.

Games – I have a few games that I like to play on my phone or iPad. When I commuted to/from San Francisco, I would usually play games on the way home (going to work, I would prepare for the day and check email, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and make a list of things to do for the day). I have a few favorite games – Word Popper, Quordy (like Boggle), Scrabble, Dodge Dot, and Phase 10. I had to give up Ms. PacMan because I was too, uh, animated, while playing that game! Knitting – I always try to have a knitting project with me. You never know when you’ll have a minute to knit a row or two. Or when you will be caught in a meeting with nothing to do to help me listen…

Knitting is an activity that can easily be done in a meeting or at a baseball game and, more importantly, it helps me pay attention better. Sometimes I have to plan ahead to take a project with me that is portable and simple enough to do without paying much attention. Lacy or pattern intense projects where you have to pay close attention to what you are doing are not ideal projects for meetings.

Reading – I listen to books a lot and I usually do this while walking or cleaning. I also keep a book or magazines in the car so that I can read if I have to wait when picking someone up. It can take a long time to read a book this way, so I try to keep more magazines than books available.

Catching Up – I think this is what I do the most when I have a little bit of time. I try to get a few things done that don’t take too much time in and of themselves. I keep a lot of things in Evernote and it is synched to all of my devices and computer.

• Phone – In Evernote, I have a phone call notes that lists people I to catch up with.
• Email – Checking email can be a time suck if you get caught up responding to everything. But taking a few minutes to delete email works great if you are waiting in line.
• Facebook/Online “Stuff” – OK – this can be a fun time waster/filler. But it can also be a good way to catch up with people and what they (or their kids) are doing. I have found that it keeps me more current with people and that you can really have a good conversation next time you are together in person if you are caught up online.
• Writing/Idea Generation – I keep writing topics and things to write in Evernote, so I can do a little brainstorming, or organizing by going to these notes. It keeps me from making excuses, like I don’t have an hour to write, so I won’t start. I’ve learned this year that even if you only have 5 minutes to write or brainstorm or organize your writing, you are much more likely to sit down and write. Even with five minutes of this type of writing, things get done.
• To Do Lists – I’m the queen of To Do lists. I keep a post it note pad handy so that I can make lists — grocery list, to do lists, list of today’s activities, who needs to be picked up when. I also keep stationary handy to write thank you (or other) notes. These notes only take a few minutes, but it’s finding a stamp that takes forever…

One other thing I am learning to do with these little scraps of time is to just sit still, breathe, and just be. I’m still figuring out that one. What do you do with your little scraps of time?