So first off, while some of it is my toddler's nature, I've put a lot of effort into forstering independent play. Mostly by setting out some interest toys, getting on with the housework and saying "I will be with you in 5 mins" and then increasing that time as he got better at playing by himself. Then after that time, we sit and play together.
Minute by minute:
Pre 7am. If he is up early we cuddle in bed together. Sometimes chat and sing songs, sometimes read books. Sometimes he roams around upstairs and bring me random things. I don't bother about him being bored or whining before this time. It should be sleep time anyway.
7am. I jump in the shower. He can join, play with water in the sink ... or unroll the loo roll.
Go downstairs for breakfast. Sometimes he wants to go play by himself for a bit first, if there is a toy he is really into. Sometimes straight to breakfast. He gets out his bowl, spoon etc. Pours all the ingredients out, tries to spread butter on his own toast etc. Takes ages. He has one of those kitchen helper towers, which helps contain the mess to one spot.
Maybe put a laundry on. Again he helps. Takes ages. Drink cup of tea while he watches the machine spin for a bit.
Get dressed. Encourage him to try and put bits on himself. Takes ages.
Around 9am. Head out to toddler group (they are running again in my area), playground, sandpit, library, swimming pool, farm park, etc.
Around 11:30am, head back home.
Noon - lunch
12:30 or 1pm. Nap.
3:30 wakes up. Might hang out upstairs and read books for a bit. Might clean bathrooms, hoover, change sheets. Again, he helps. Has his own cloth or hoover attachment to play with. Throws dirty laundry down the stairs.
4:00 snack. Maybe 20 mins of TV if the baby needs some quiet time.
We stay home in the afternoon. We might get out a big toy like the train set and build it together. And I'll try and catch his interest by adding something new, like some conkers for the trains to move around, or a dragon terrorising one of the train stations, or a shed for the trains to sleep in. Sometimes this will capture his imagination and he will get into playing a new game by himself.
We might go play in the garden. On a summer's day there would probably be a lot of water play and gardening outside. Otherwise kicking a ball, riding a bike etc. At the moment he likes cutting leaves off the trees.
Some more cleaning if we are bored. He gets the broom while I mop, or something. He hands me clean things from the dishwasher.
Of course we usually have to cook. He has a bowl to wash all the vegetables for me. He chops we soft things with a butter knife. Pours pasta into the empty saucepan, things like that.
By 6:30, DH is home and we eat, clean up and put kids to bed.
Up to bed at 7:30, ideally all sorted by 8pm.
If there is any dead time I fill it with:
baths - more fun if you both get in. It sometimes I bring a book to read while he splashes about
writing a shopping list: I write the real one, he has his own pen and paper and we discuss what he would like to buy, and who should add what to their own list. He makes lots of squiggles on his list.
baking cakes/cookies
letting him play at the kitchen sink. Just set him up in the kitchen helper tower with some cups or pots.
gardening - there are always more weeds.
books - some days he can read forever, some days he is not into it.
something new - a box, a toy he hasn't seen for ages, playing with something he used to be too small for.
decluttering! This is great. He gets to pull everything out of a cupboard he doesn't usually get to look in and examine all the cool stuff. I try and sort through things and decide what need ato go back in and what can go in the bin. Sometes we discover a favourite new toy, like a hairband, tin, spoon, hat, tape measure. Toddlers are weird like that. If you have loads of time, you can even take some bits to the charity shop/recycling centre and discuss where it all goes. Mine loves that sort of thing.
running errands - supermarket, hairdresser, new shoes, post office.
more TV - last resort when we are sick.