Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sponsored threads

This topic is for sponsored discussions. If you'd like to run one with us, please email [email protected].

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Early for pickup? Friend running late? Let Barclays know how you make the most of an unexpected 5 minutes downtime out of the house, for your chance to win a £200 John Lewis voucher - NOW CLOSED

279 replies

AnnMumsnet · 01/07/2013 14:01

Barclays say "It's happened to all of us - you're out and about and you find yourself with some unexpected free time on your hands - you're a few minutes early for pickup, or one of the kids is bravely allowing a hairdresser to trim their locks."

"We're putting together the ultimate list of tips to maximise lost moments throughout the day, to celebrate two ingenious apps from Barclays: the Barclays Mobile Banking app, which lets you manage your finances when you are out and about; and Barclays Pingit, an app that lets you send and receive money using just a mobile number."

So they are asking, what do you do with that time? How do you make the most of the moments and once they have all added up, what would you spend an extra hour on a week?

Let us know your thoughts on this thread - everyone who adds a comment before the closing date of 15th July 2013 will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 John Lewis voucher. Please note your anonymous submitted tips may well be used on the Barclays pages on MN as well as possibly elsewhere.

Thanks
MNHQ

OP posts:
GenericDietCola · 01/07/2013 22:34

I'm most likely to write a to do list. to organise the thoughts in my head. Would probably also check and respond to emails.

PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline · 01/07/2013 22:35

I usually Mumsnet or read something on my Kindle.

HappySunflower · 01/07/2013 22:38

I reply to text messages, file/paint my nails, pack my dd's nursery bag for the next day, ditto my work bag.

With a whole hour.....I could get my hair cut, do the weekly shop, or meet a friend for a coffee!

MollyBerry · 01/07/2013 22:40

Generally fire off a few emails to try and reduce the to do list

starkadder · 01/07/2013 22:50

I would go to sleep. If I had a free hour.

doubleshotespresso · 01/07/2013 22:51

Yes agree if I am lucky enough to grab a bit of extra unexpected time, then I would either read the Kindle, catch up on cleaning (yes I am that sad) or browse the internet.....

If I had a whole hour?

Probably google for stuff to add to shopping lists or get some guilt-free pampering in at home (this never seems to happen, even though it always features in my "to do" list).

dahville · 01/07/2013 23:09

I use the time to check out my phone - e-mail, news feed, FB, & Twitter; if there is any time left then checking my to do list!

Dilidali · 01/07/2013 23:13

Sit there feeling like everybody has got off the bus and I am still in it, not noticing they've all gone.
It's so rare to have a few moments with nothing to do! Must find switch off button.
An extra hour in the week? Can I sleep it?

BlissfullyIgnorant · 01/07/2013 23:15

Every spare five minutes of mine is dedicated to working on a cross stitched cushion for my niece (she adores my hand made gifts); the design is a blue VW Camper Van - her fave thing! I set off early to pick up my daughter every day to make sure I have the extra few minutes Smile

PavlovtheCat · 01/07/2013 23:15

5 mins:
Nodding off
Relaxing, eyes closed just me nodding off
Meditating, just being, enjoying the quiet nodding off
Drinking coffee if I have time to grab one. to stop me nodding off
Mumsnetting catching up on important calls/paying any bills online

1 hour:
Sleeping, if not at home, doesn't matter. park benches are comfy enough when sleep is needed badly
Drinking coffee
Reading a newspaper. A REAL one, you know, the one with turny pages that crinkle.
Eat lunch, with both hands, without having to get up from the seat at all, and while also drinking my coffee and reading my crinkly real newspaper.
Swim/Sauna/long hot shower/shave legs etc at the gym.
Sit in a beer garden, not even for alcohol, just to sit and have a cool drink outside without that constant ever-so-slight panic that lays in your belly when you are in a pub garden with a 3yr old.
Preferably all these things by the sea - apart from the swimming, which is in my gym.
If it's summer - lie in the soft grass near the harbour, watching the boats and the water.

aristocat · 01/07/2013 23:22

Read my book or check mumsnet/watch news bulletins

magentastardust · 01/07/2013 23:22

Peaceful cup of coffee, quick sit in the back garden or quick 5 mins on the kindle-bliss!
Little things that you take for granted until you find yourself with lots of children!

MaxinePeakedistrict · 01/07/2013 23:27

I read through my pile of letters, magazines, junk mail, catalogues etc. also enjoy crosswords which I find very absorbing so I don't mind hanging around.

If I'm in the car I might give the inside of the windows a bit of clean with wipes.

I sometimes read through my diary and think through how need to be organised, compile shopping lists etc. I go through my phone deleting messages.

Madratlady · 01/07/2013 23:46

I quite often have a small knitting project in my bag if there's a chance I could be kept waiting.

If I don't have any knitting with me then I end up on the internet on my phone checking forums I use.

Madratlady · 01/07/2013 23:47

A whole hour would be spent on the sofa reading, it's not something I get enough time for at the moment.

skyeskyeskye · 01/07/2013 23:51

If I have five Minutes to spare I surf the net on my phone, either Facebook or Mumsnet or read a paper online.

firawla · 02/07/2013 00:49

I just check facebook on my phone or maybe candy crush

Kveta · 02/07/2013 01:31

5 minutes would be spent in silence, with my eyes closed.

A whole hour?! Reading would be lovely, but I know I would really end up putting a load of washing on, starting cooking a meal, clearing up toys, putting the hoover round etc. Out of the house, I would read though :)

DifferentNow · 02/07/2013 01:40

I Mumsnet, check emails, reply to texts, review my diary etc. If I had a whole hour, I might just sit in silence. Sometimes, if I get home an hour before I need to leave again for the school pickup and the littlest DC has fallen asleep in the car, I will just sit in the car until it's time to go again and enjoy the quiet. My neighbours probably think I'm a weirdo.

BlueSkySoftSand · 02/07/2013 02:20

Normally I would reach for the phone to check fb, messages, etc. But sometimes it proves worthwhile to actually do nothing, just to sit quietly for a moment and enjoy the peace!

wombatcheese · 02/07/2013 02:23

Check BBC news app. If had a whole hour a coffee and newspaper in a cafe would be a treat, or a run and long hot shower.

pussinwellyboots · 02/07/2013 05:41

There's always a number of short jobs that need doing in any downtime; paying the child minder, and other money related transfers, sorting out school letters, meal planning, and number of cleaning tasks. Or my number one; making a cup of tea and enjoying some time with tea and a good book.

chebella · 02/07/2013 06:15

Make a list of things that Need Doing. Or even a list of lists!

GetKnitted · 02/07/2013 06:52

5 minutes spare while out and about? Out comes the phone for facebook, goggling, or knittiing patterns. Occasionally open up my banking app (not barclays sorry).

InMySpareTime · 02/07/2013 07:14

When I have spare 5 minutes (which happens a lot as I'm habitually early) I make up stories about people I see around me. If they are good stories I type them up.
Hence a man I saw across a pub became a fictional pirate in a short story (he was wearing an eyepatch and a docker hat)
I suppose that counts as work. I am a storyteller, every day's a work dayGrin.