Killing Time While Waiting in the Car

Sharing a couple creative activities I often do when I'm in my car.

Container of Art Supplies and Sketchbook

Do you sometimes find yourself sitting and waiting for something or someone for ten or more minutes? What do you do to pass the time? I thought I'd share two things I like to do when I'm waiting in my car with time to kill.

Short Writing Prompt

Susie Morgenstern's "The Aspiring Writer's Journal"

I have several writing prompts books I used to take with me when I traveled. The books consist of short writing prompts I could complete within a few minutes.

Since I've been writing more often the past year to improve my skills, I sometimes want to complete a short writing prompt when I'm sitting and waiting in my car. Instead of hauling a writing prompt book with me, I'll write a random prompt in my notebook or sketchbook to complete later.

Writing in a Sketchbook

I always take a notebook or sketchbook and pens at the very least when I head out. I also bring a marker for no reason other than I always seem to grab a marker before I head out. I don't always use it, but at least I have it with me when I want to be creative with my words or with sketches.

Depending on the notebook or sketchbook I bring with me, I may have a binder clip to hold the pages in place. This is helpful when I let the car windows down or hang out at the park on a breezy day.

Quick Sketch and Paint

Collage of Art Supplies

Since I've been feeling more artsy this past year, I often choose to sketch and paint when I'm sitting and waiting in my car.

If you read when I wrote about Making Myself Fun and Productive Challenges in March, you may recall I made myself an art challenge I've continued into this month. Time spent sitting and waiting in my car was perfect for completing my personal daily challenge.

Watercolor Painting Incomplete Stitch Sketch

In addition to having a notebook or sketchbook and pens, I also have a pencil, eraser, and sharpener to sketch my images. I personally prefer to pre-sketch and erase major errors before I outline an image with a pen and/or paint it with watercolor.

Signing Finished Watercolor Stitch and Scrump

To add color if I have the time to do so, I have a portable watercolor kit with water brush, extra water brush, sheet of shop towel, and binder clip.

Why I'm Often Waiting

Two Dogs, Shadow (back) and Rascal (front), in a Car

Before the pandemic, I often drove my parents where they needed to go on weekends and my days off. My Mom doesn't drive outside of her city limits and my Dad doesn't have a car. I'd pick up my Mom or Dad and take them to appointments, shopping, or anywhere else they needed or wanted to go.

I always took my dogs with me since I disliked shopping or didn't need to be in the hospital with my parents for their appointments. I'd often wait in my car with my dogs for anywhere from ten minutes to an hour for one of my parents to return. Therefore, I always had something to keep me occupied.

The pandemic significantly reduced my parents' appointments and shopping trips. In fact, it's been months since I've visited my Mom. However, since Dad now lives with me, I still drive him when he needs to do grocery shopping. Again, I'd wait in my car with my dogs for anywhere from ten minutes to an hour while I waited for his return.

This morning I drove Dad to do grocery shopping and came up with this idea to share the items I always have with me in the car to keep myself occupied.

My Thoughts

Opened Container of Art Supplies in Cup Holder

Completing a short writing prompt or making a quick sketch and paint as an art exercise is a great way to kill time when I'm waiting in my car. This could be a great way for any creative person to pass the time wherever they're waiting.

These are the items I always take with me when I head out:

• notebook or sketchbook

• pens

• marker

• pencils

• eraser

• sharpener

• portable watercolor kit

• water brush(es)

• shop towel sheet

• binder clip

Of course, cell phone games are a fun way to pass the time. After all, most people have their cell phones with them wherever they go. I prefer console and PC games over cell phone games. However, I just realized that it's never crossed my mind to bring my Nintendo Switch with me when I head out. I wonder why?

Social media and surfing the web on a mobile device are also ways to pass the time. I'm an introvert and don't immediately think to participate in social media exchanges, but I do surf the web when I'm searching for a reference to sketch and paint when I'm in my car!

What's Next?

I didn't finish my writing prompt this morning because I wanted to take time to think about it. When I do finish my personal "ten commandments," I may share those with you in a future blog post.

How do you pass the time when you have a short wait on your hands? Login and Sign up to share what you do to keep yourself occupied when sitting and waiting.

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Thanks, and have a great day!

Simply Jelly Jam