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

[AnnMumsnet]

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

I tend to look on through the photos on my phone, reliving recent fun times. Or tidy out my purse or make a list.

An hour would be time for a nice nap!

When I get a spare 5 minutes I either check emails or text friends or make lists of things I need to remember/do which will hopefully help contribute to saving me enough time to have an hour free!

When I get an hour to myself, I like to have a long soak in the bath (preferably with a g&t or glass of wine and a book)

In the car- reply to texts or emails. Tidy the car, reset the car's time clock (often a few minutes out.)
At home - eat with no interruptions, read.

An hour of guaranteed free time? Book & bath ideally. Or paperwork or another job that requires a bit of concentration.

Clear out my handbag and purse of receipts, sweet wrappers etc. Put the dishwasher on. Put some washing away.

If I'm in the car; check emails, tidy up, check fuel.

In the evening when the children and there is a tv prog I want to watch that starts in a few minutes I'll run round with the rechargeable vac, wipe down the counter, make packed lunch. Knit whilst I'm watching said tv prog

At the moment five minutes peace is so rare that I would do absolutely nothing. There's nothing I covet more than a good old stare into space, without being interrupted.

Sometimes I have a little sing to myself. At home I might whip out a cookery book and plan what treats to bake.
Who am I kidding? Mostly, with 5 mins to spare I think about what to do with the 5 mins . . . and then it is gone.

Read read read! I keep a 'car book' in the passenger side of the car and read a few chapters if I'm running early and have no need to get anywhere. Bliss.

Just reading A Trick I learnt from dead men at teh mo

catch up on some reading.
I always have a book in my bag but hardly ever get it out
so would read even if it is a page.
Although i will admit to sometimes just closing my eyes and taking a deep breath and listen to a little chill fm

I like to sit and watch the world go by. But only if I have sunglasses on.
A spare hour? Coffee and book or mumsnet but mainly just enjoy silence

Depends where I am/who I'm with I suppose. Assuming I'm alone and somewhere scenic I'd go for a relaxing stroll and let my mind wander/admire the scenery, possibly stopping for a coffee if the chance arises - I used to be so self conscious about dining alone but since becoming a parent if I get the chance to have a cup of coffee on my own I really savour it and feel very 'grown up'

If I'm waiting for the kids I'll listen to the radio/read and....do my butt clench exercises (I'm very aware of things heading south lately) - but only if I'm sitting down/no one can see my bottom!

It's rare but a spot of Mumsnetting, a few zombies anihilated on Plants vs Zombies, ideally with a coffee sitting in the sunshine enjoying the silence!!

It's rare but a spot of Mumsnetting, a few zombies anihilated on Plants vs Zombies, ideally with a coffee sitting in the sunshine enjoying the silence!!

Oops

Think.

An hour? Read, or bath, or swim, or sleep.

read my kindle, check emails / facebook & jot down any reminders I have thought about/

I usually have a book with me so an unexpected 5 mins free would become reading time. Possibly not at school pick up (when dd was in primary) as I'd be more likely to have a chat with another parent. If I was so early that there were o other parents there, then I'd read.

There is absolutely no way I would use that time to do banking. That gets done on my pc at home.

An extra hour? Nice long bath with a book and a cuppa to keep me company.

dont laugh, but i like to do buttock clenches (even if you are out when you have 5 mins spare - waiting for a bus etc no one will know if you are wearing a coat lol), if im at home i always use spare 5 mins or more with a bit of crochet (then all the squares add up to a blanket in the end). With a full hour? hmmm so many things you can do in an hour, but i think take the bike ride (didnt realise how out of shape i was until i got back on a bike)!

I always have my kindle with me so would generally read, other than that I would just be and enjoy the space. I would not be using that time to do banking etc.

I take a minute to do a little relaxation exercise and then do something nice for myself, like put on some lovely handcream.

For 5 minutes I will obsessively check email and refresh the latest online job application screen until I read 'you have been unsuccessful this time' again.
For an hour, I would tragically look for interesting bargainous shoes on ebay.

I would sit down with a hot cup of tea and catch up on a programme that I've recorded and not had a chance to watch.

I'm currently really addicted to a new app I downloaded called Duolingo - it helps you learn a new language and I can now say "My husband is wearing his sister's dress and he likes it" in German (For some reason all of the phrases seem to combine to make hilarious innuendo, or pehaps I'm just immature!)

Oops didn't say - that's evidently my go-to spare 5 mins app.

Or terribly unpopular but I might have a cigarette.

Also been known to read on kindle app but not in a 5 minute slot, unless I'm reading one of those books which is just a collection of anecdotes.

If I was in the car I would enjoy listening to the radio, on my own, without having to play I Spy or some other game! For a whole hour, I would probably nip into a nice local cafe, get a takeaway coffee, sit back, enjoy the news, and probably end up checking a few emails, and sending some personal texts out to friends who I havnt had a chance to catch up on.

I'd find the nearest shop and have a browse round! :)