If you run a family, have a job, or generally keep a busy schedule, the idea of needing to “kill time” can seem quite amusing to you. As if you had time to burn in the first place. But in some respects, this can be more than possible. If you’re someone who constantly needs something to do, you may find yourself worrying about where to go in these instances, and how to manage yourself. You might feel a little restless or worried.
This is especially true if you’re in a new environment. For example, you might be on a business trip with nothing to do in the evening except wait for your appointment tomorrow. Perhaps you’re on a longer commute to visit family and friends, but you’re taking the train this time because your car is being worked on. Maybe you just have a day free, waiting to see someone in the afternoon, and all your household chores are done.
Are there ways of productively killing time, while also having fun? We believe there are. In this post, we’ll discuss five of them:
-
Review Your Digital Notebook
A digital notebook can serve as your “second brain,” while also being carried around with you wherever you take your laptop, tablet or smartphone. This can be used to help organize your day, plan your financial budget or routine outgoings, track your savings, and also list your goals.
It can be helpful to look over your notebook from time to time to make sure it’s organized how you like, to ensure the little notes you took when you had little time to dedicated are properly formatted and correct, and to give yourself more information to help you plan upcoming events in life. The problem is, too often we’re so busy that the notebook isn’t always listed how we might prefer.
No matter if you use Evernote, Obsidian, Notion, Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote or whatever other program you prefer, it can be good to spend some time managing this again, even if you only do so a few times per year.
-
Play Relaxing Games That Require A Little Focus
How can you best kill time when you’re supposed to be half-focusing on the world around you? For example, you might have a long wait at the dentist office since you arrived early, but you still need to be present, respectful of others, and to be ready for your name to be called.
This is where playing a simple game that requires a little attention but also relaxes you will help the time fly. For example, classics like spider solitaire hosted on websites that remain free and accessible can help you pass the time while still getting in a good brain workout.
Small puzzle games are also effective, as are the many options available on the UK casino sites if gambling is your thing. There are many of these apps both for sale and free on the App and Play stores. This way, you can entertain yourself, think through a few logic problems or play some slots, and then wonder how the time passed so quickly.
-
Meal Preparation
If you have time to spend at home, and aren’t in the mood for anything in particular, it can be good to get ahead of your weekly cooking. Meal prep means cooking large batches of certain recipes, portioning them and freezing or refrigerating them in containers.
For example, if you’re heading to meet your friend for Sunday lunch but have the morning free, you might cook all your work lunches for the week. This saves you time in the evening preparing your food for the next day, and it also saves cleanup and expense when you eat that meal.
This can also be a relaxing meditative experience, as most people enjoy cooking as a therapeutic effort. Put in some music or an episode of your favorite show, relax, and let the time slip away.
-
Catch Up On Some Articles
It’s very healthy to avoid constantly watching the news cycle. Those who do this may be informed, but also may be misinformed, and can also find them building “refreshing habits” on the timeline. In other words, you find yourself doomscrolling, reading about international conflicts, difficulties, upsets, and scandals, and never really get to escape that headspace.
Catching up on professionally-written articles composed by experts and people with real insight can be a breath of fresh air. It means you don’t need to be reactive to news, you can be proactive to topics you’re interested in. Want to hear the latest scandal rocking the chess world? Well, instead of bitesize news, you can read all about it by a reputable publication that took time to collate all the facts and various perspectives.
Sites like Pocket allow you to save many articles for your own use in this way, and read them for when you have time. An RSS reader also allows you to collate many of your favorite writers and publications in one space, only getting the updates you really need. Over time, this will help you avoid repeat news and wasting time continually reading what’s happening right now, instead of reading what’s most interesting. On top of that, it’s a fantastic method of spending time when you have ten minutes to spare and aim to learn something.
-
Respond To Those Messages
It’s both a benefit and a downside that many of us are connected all the time. Being able to talk to anyone you need to instantaneously is great, but it does demand our attention and can make us look dismissive if we don’t reply within a certain amount of time.
Of course, that means it’s smart and wise to ignore the constant need to message and connect with others, and only respond when you can or when is most appropriate. But if you have a backlog of messages, emails and many other additional conversations to keep up with, it’s always a good idea to reply to them now.
That might also remind you to reach out to others, be that wishing someone a pre-emptive congratulations, or booking an appointment with your dog groomer in advance. Knowing you’ve dealt with these messages can help that hanging sense of dread that you’re missing out, or that people assume you’re ignoring them.
With this advice, you’re sure to productively kill time in the best way.
