Keeping in Line : Ten Things to do with your Time while you wait in line

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If you are waiting for something to happen while waiting in line at the store or at an appointment, there are several things that you can do to continue with...

If you are waiting for something to happen while waiting in line at the store or at an appointment, there are several things that you can do to continue with your day. Here are ten things to do while you are waiting in any public area.

Plan. If you are at a place in your day where you have either finished the tasks that needed time management, or if you have set your goals, then find a way to move on to the next task and plan what needs to be done next. By setting new goals and time limits, you will be able to find a way to continue to reach your goals for the rest of your day.

Refocus. If you have a busy schedule, use the time that you are waiting to refocus. Go over your schedule for the day, find what you need to do for the rest of the day, and figure out what to do to re-manage your time. If you have a handheld device or a notebook with a list, you can look over what your list has for the day, as well as what your goals are.

Make more lists. If you find that several of your goals have been reached for the day, or if you want to move forward onto a different task, making a different list or rearranging the list that you already have is an easy thing to do while you are waiting. Once you are out of the line or have stepped out of your appointment, you will know exactly what needs to get done next.

Organize your time. If you have your calendar with you, and have already set your lists, then figure out how much time it will take you to complete the tasks and goals that you have on your schedule for that day. Planning out how long it will take you to finish your tasks of the day is an effective use of time while waiting in line or waiting for an appointment.

Bring mail or correspondence to sort through. If you have mail that will need to go out to friends, or things that you need to organize, you can bring these with you. While you are waiting, it is an easy thing to sort through or read while waiting.

Make phone calls. If you have business partners or friends that need you to call them, this is a great time to do so. Because you are waiting in line, you will be able to keep the phone calls short and to the point.

Bring along the smaller tasks. Sometimes, there are smaller things that need to be completed or looked through. If you need to finish a smaller task, doing so while waiting in line is a great time to catch up on what you may have not necessarily have done when the focus was on the larger tasks and goals that were set for the day.

Re-energize. If the day is particularly busy for you, this is a good time to not do anything except wait. Use waiting time as a time to calm down, find your focus, and relax. Downtime is always good and necessary in any day that is full of activities and planning.

Read. If you know that your wait is going to be longer, you can catch up on reading that you need to do. This can help you relax. You can also read things that will help you with your progress for the rest of the day. Reading can often keep you on track for the rest of your day as well.

Catch up on the news. Many different places will have magazines and newspapers available right by the check out stand, or wherever you are waiting. If you don’t bring your own material to read, it’s always good to keep up with the latest news and happenings in the world. This is good to do if you have already organized the rest of your day and made your plans.

If you are going to a place where you think there will be waiting time, make sure to always bring along your planning devices, or any smaller tasks that you will have to do for the rest of the day. This will help you in never having to stand in line or wait for a long amount of time without having anything to do.

Wherever you are waiting, it is always a good time to reschedule, re-energize and continue with your lists and plans that need to be organized for the rest of the day. By using waiting time as a way to continue setting your goals, the rest of your day will run smoothly and more effectively as you are able to continue with your plans.