This post is in collaboration with Verizon Wireless. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My experience may differ from your own. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
This is the first year both of my kids are on a travel soccer team so we are running to and from fields and games a lot. I used to feel like it pretty much sucked down my entire night every Tuesday and Thursday, but then I got smarter about how to use this time. Here are 5 things I can accomplish during my kids’ soccer practice to use that 3 hours a week wisely!
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Kids’ Practice Time
Catch Up On Work
Hallelujah, this year both of my kids practice on the same field at the same time on the same days. The stars have aligned. The field is a good 15-20 minutes from home, so rather than waste time in the car driving to and from home, I’ll stay at the field and sit either at a picnic table if it’s warm enough, or in my car, and fire up my laptop.
With the Verizon Unlimited plan I can use my phone as a mobile hot spot so I’m always connected and can quickly respond to a few emails or cross a couple of things off my work list. Often it’s just those couple last minute things that keep me up too late at night, trying to wrap it up before I go to bed. So if I can handle them during practice it frees up the rest of my night.
Call Your Mom
A lot of my communication with my mom and other friends is via text, and isn’t it so nice to actually TALK to someone? I have a few friends that I love to have a juicy conversation with once in a while, and soccer practice is the perfect time for me to call them and catch up on what’s been going on in our lives.
Get Steppin’
I have a FitBit and soccer practice makes it easy for me to get my steps in! I admit I’m terrible at really carving out time to exercise, but when I’m not home and don’t have all those dishes and dirty laundry staring me in the face to distract me, I can just go for a walk, listen to some tunes on my phone, and do something good for me. Grab another soccer mom (football mom, whatever your sport!) and walk together!
Indulge In Some Me-Time
Reading is one of my favorite pastimes and I don’t feel like I have nearly enough time for it. Sometimes I’ll grab a blanket and lay on the grass, or just chill out in my car with a good book. Don’t like to read? Maybe you like to veg out laughing at memes on Instagram (guilty!) or listen to a podcast. Practice time is the perfect time to do those things.
Brain Dump
My husband will often look at my laptop and say, “Lindsay, what are you doing with all these tabs open?” Back off, dear. You don’t know anything about all this. My laptop with all its tabs is representative of my brain, 50 things going on up there at all times. I need to reschedule my daughter’s dentist appointment. My car needs to go into the shop. The cat is almost out of food. You can relate, I’m sure.
Sit down during practice and brain dump all the things on your list into one place. Sometimes I use a pen and paper, and other times I use a notes app on my phone. But once it’s out of my head and documented somewhere, I can relax, not trying to remember 1000 things anymore and knowing they won’t be forgotten.
What would you add to my list? What are some productive things you do during your kids’ practices?
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