Pottering about - what does this involve for you?

[Snog]

I'm never really sure what folk mean when they say they have been "pottering".
What does it involve for you?

I'm a champion at pottering. I struggle to focus on housework in a systemic way. Pottering is doing useful bits and pieces in an impulsive, haphazard way.

Pottering for me means a day/morning/afternoon at home or on the balcony, doing little jobs that catch my eye, interspersed with sit-downs, cups of tea. Plus nattering if there's someone else at home.

Pottering to me is doing very little. Much less so than most of the days listed here. I'm an expert at it!

I often do this when on the phone. Find small jobs or tidying as I walk and talk. Might be straightening things up, dead heading plants, sorting washing, tidying kitchen surfaces ...

I took early retirement and pottering is my entire way of life! I get a lot done but in a leisurely, relaxed way. No rushing and plenty of tea/coffee breaks.

If you have to think about it it's not pottering.

Putting away a few bits of paperwork: part of pottering. Ringing up the energy company to sort out your tariff: not pottering.

Sewing a button back on a blouse: part of pottering. Altering a garment: not pottering.

Putting the loose books back on the shelf: part of pottering. Deciding to send some books to the charity shop: not pottering.

This thread is making me so happy. Love a good potter, and apparently descriptions of it too!

Roasting a chicken is the ultimate pottering activity for me. Oil, salt, stick a lime in it (much better than lemon, trust me) and leave it in the oven for an hour and a half or so. Spend that hour and a half doing a few standard chores at a leisurely pace or something enjoyable like alphabetising books or CDs (don't judge) or sorting through photos. Great smell of cooking chicken in the background all the while, then pull it apart for lunch while fiddling about on the internet. Bliss.

Rarer since I have a small child at home but this is my go-to 'time off' when DH is on child duty!

Pottering is my favourite mode!

For it means being slowly productive, but (and this is key) without any pressure. I can choose what I do and can have long breaks if I like. It's leisurely productiveness for me.

I often find in this mode I will get little jobs (cleaning, paperwork, small gardening jobs, phone calls) done that I have been putting off, as my mind is more open to doing them because I don't HAVE to.

This only works for me with home related tasks 😂

This thread makes me sad. I love a good potter but now I’ve got 3 kids under 5 at home all the time my opportunities for pottering are non-existent!

But a good potter for me means small tasks like a bit of light housework (eg. Loading the dishwasher, tidying up, vacuuming), some Decluttering (my favourite thing), laundry, perhaps some small DIY tasks, some light garden work, and some general admin (writing cards, paying bills, sorting paperwork, etc.)

I love to potter around - but can only do that at home.
Everywhere else I work/walk with purpose (so I can get home quicker!)
At home I potter:
Clearing out 'stuff'
Mowing the lawn
Bit of gardening
Tidying up
Admin tasks
Bit of mending (sewing etc) or fixing something
Transfer of items into/out of loft
Baking/cooking
Cleaning
eBaying stuff
Washing dog

None of these things are done with vigour and I can spread 4/5 tasks out to a whole day. Lots of lazing in-between & other little jobs/tasks pop up.

Today:

Laundry
Home pedicure
Supermarket
Home workout
Weeding
Cleaned fridge (post supermarket)
Read book with a Gin Ricky
Sunbathed (see above)
Showered twice
Fake tanned
Spoke to The Mother
Sorted spare room
Put the bins out / in
Reported some plants
Attacked a spot on my nose
Booked a tree surgeon
Refilled bird feeders (not that they need them right now)
Texted some colleagues about work plans when we go back
Thought about what the fuck I can do with ‘that’ corner of the garden
Cooked parts of dinner to assemble later
Poured a Vodka lime and soda and wrote this on Mumsnet

Perfect ‘busy doing nothing’ day.

*repotted some plants. Not ‘reported’. Any of my neighbours with plants that needed ‘reporting’ would be my New BFF’s.

Loving these descriptions!