Ok, I am always trying to be more efficient with my time, and the car rider line is no exception! With multiple kids at different schools, I have to be in line very early at the first school in order to make it to the second school on time. I’ve caught myself scrolling on my phone more than I care to admit, so I’ve really been trying to make the most of the time spent waiting in the car rider line. I just know these 20 Productive Car Rider Line Ideas will help you make the most of your day, too, so you’ll have more time for YOU later!
Productive Car Rider Line Ideas
I should preface this list by saying that these ideas are for when you’re at school super early and you’re not driving. I don’t recommend doing any of these options while you’re doing the stop-and-go driving as the car rider line moves up. At my kids’ schools, cell phones (or anything really) are not even supposed to be in our hands in the school zone at all while the car is moving. FYI!
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Read a Book
This one is obvious, but I truly don’t make enough time to sit down and read a real book with real paper pages. Keep a book in your car as your car rider line book!
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Listen to a Podcast
I love podcasts, because they’re free learning about literally any topic!
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Meal Plan in the Car Rider Line
On Fridays in the car rider line, I like to meal plan for the next week.
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Order Grocery Pick Up or Delivery
After meal planning, I order groceries from my phone. Doing it in the car rider line saves me so much time!
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Plan a Vacation
Whether it’s a little outing to a flower patch or a week-long spring break trip, the car rider line is a great time to research all the things.
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Play a Car Game with Your Other Kids
If you have your other kiddos waiting with you, use that time for quality time and play a car game like this one!
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Car Workout
I know it sounds sooo silly, but use this time to get your steps in, either in the car or around the block! One friend of mine leaves her car in the car rider line and walks around the block a couple times before it’s time to pick up kids from school. Ha! Genius! You could also do knee lifts and calf exercises, too. Believe it or not, there are car exercise videos on YouTube! Check them out.
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Write Thank You Cards
In this day and age, handwritten thank you cards are especially rare to receive. Leave a box of pretty thank you notes in your car and use the car rider line time to catch up on writing them! Leave stamps in the box, too. Then, you can drop it in the mailbox on your way home. So efficient, right?
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Do Birthday or Holiday Shopping Online
Each holiday season (or before family birthdays), I use my car rider line time to dream up fun gift ideas and also do my shopping!
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Make Doctor Appointments or Other Necessary Phone Calls
You know, those necessary phone calls that sometimes we just need to stop and get finished!
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Order Takeout
If I know it’s going to be an extra busy night, sometimes I’ll text a takeout menu to members of the family and then they’ll text back their order. Then, I compile them and either order online or call ahead for a later pick-up time after all our evening activities. Usually, I try to meal plan though, with MenuPlans!
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Clean Your Car
I have a large console in the center of the front seat and I keep Armorall wipes in it. If I notice dust on the dashboard, I go ahead and clean it right then with the wipes!
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Clean Out Your Purse
You could also clean out your diaper bag, if you have one!
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Drink Coffee and Read a Magazine
This is self care, you guys! Ha! Sometimes, it’s just nice to plan to set aside time to do things like this!
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Meditate
Try it with sunglasses on so you don’t have to worry about people looking at you. You could also set an alarm on your phone before the school bell rings, so you don’t have to stop to keep checking the time.
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Devotional or Prayer Time
Because I can always use more of this!!
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Give Yourself a Manicure
If you really want to be extra and your car has a power outlet attachment, you could even give yourself a gel manicure!
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Call or Text a Relative or Friend
With busy schedules, sometimes it’s hard to chat on the phone with relatives as much as I’d like to. The car rider line is the perfect amount of time for a quick check-in call!
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Learn a Language, Another Car Rider Line Idea!
Some of my friends use DuoLingo, and the car rider line is the perfect time to practice a new language! Currently, I’m learning French.
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Plan an Upcoming Holiday or Family Event
I am such a planner, and I love using this time in the car rider line to plan out holiday menus, birthday party games, family reunion logistics, you name it!
So, what do you think? Are you going to put these Productive Car Rider Line Ideas to good use? I hope so!! Tell me what which one’s you’ve already done, and which ones you’re going to do!
MORE BACK TO SCHOOL IDEAS
- Easy Sandwich Skewer Lunchbox Hack – I can’t believe I’ve never done this before!
- Back to School Lunch Box Ideas – A HUGE list of ideas to save you time, effort, and money!
- Sip Sip Hooray, a Stanley Cup Idea – This one comes with a free printable!
