1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning. 2 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 2: This is Laura, Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 2: tip is that with a little creativity, you can repurpose 4 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: waiting time to do something that is meaningful for you. 5 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: I love hearing about how my listeners and readers make 6 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 2: the most of their time. For instance, one swim parent 7 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: recently shared that she is part of a book club 8 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: composed of parents of kids on her kid's swim team. 9 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: The book club meets regularly at the pool while the 10 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 2: kids are at practice. I absolutely love this idea. The 11 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 2: parents are at the pool anyway, and the book club 12 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: gives purpose to their time beyond just waiting to drive 13 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: their kids home. Without but the book club, most of 14 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: the parents would probably be scrolling around on their phones 15 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 2: or maybe even talking with each other about how busy 16 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: they are if only they had time to be in 17 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: a book club. But with the swim parent book club, 18 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,559 Speaker 2: at least some of the nights they are talking about 19 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 2: a book and connecting with each other over this shared interest. 20 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: My bet is that during some of the other practices 21 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 2: on nights when the book club doesn't meet, they may 22 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 2: spend time reading the book. They'll eventually discuss. Maybe they 23 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 2: even chat with each other about what they are reading. 24 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 2: In the same spirit, by being a little creative, you 25 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,839 Speaker 2: can turn other recurring waiting times into something that's fun 26 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: for you too. If you have a kid activity like 27 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: sports or gymnastics, robotics, youth symphony, or a choir that 28 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 2: leaves you and other parents sitting around waiting, consider whether 29 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: there is an activity some. 30 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: Of you might enjoy while you wait. You could form 31 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: a book club like the folks at the pool, or 32 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: you could decide to discuss a podcast or movie or 33 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: ted talk. A game club is another option, maybe bridge 34 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: every week, or you could take turns bringing a tabletop 35 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: game like pictionary. You could try yoga or stretching. Particularly 36 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: if someone can lead the group and there's a space 37 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: available separate from where your kids are doing their thing, 38 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: you could meet up and walk or run in the neighborhood. 39 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: You could try some of these activities on a one 40 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: off basis and see whether they catch on. For instance, 41 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: all you have to do to try out a game 42 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: club is bring a deck of cards or corkeal tiles 43 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: someday and see whether anyone wants to play. You may 44 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 1: soon find kindred spirits. For some people, workday lunch breaks 45 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: can be ho hum as well. You could go back 46 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: to work, but it would be nice to do something 47 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: different for the time you have before heading back to 48 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: your desk. If that's the case for you, these waiting 49 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 1: activities could also be good for your lunch hour. Rally 50 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: a group of colleagues for a book club, a goal club, 51 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: or similar. Pack a lunch and enjoy eating while you 52 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: have a focused discussion with your work friends about the 53 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: book you've all read, the goals you are each pursuing, 54 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: or whatever topic you decide on. Or maybe you eat 55 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: quickly at your desk and then meet up with colleagues 56 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: for a short walk. Either way, you are replacing a 57 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: dull lunch hour with an engaging one. You are giving 58 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: the time purpose. We spend a lot of time waiting, 59 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: so anything you can do to make it more enjoyable 60 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: is a win. Think about when it will happen, think 61 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: about what might be fun, and try things out. You 62 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: might be surprised at how much you start looking forward 63 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: to your kids swim practice. If you try making the 64 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: most of waiting time to do something fun, I'd love 65 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: to hear about it. You can reach me at Laura 66 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: at Laura vandercam dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. 67 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 68 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've 69 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at 70 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast is a 71 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit 72 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 73 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.