How to pass the time during journey delays

Suddenly got some time to kill? Try these ways to pass the time. They’re guaranteed to turn frustrating journey delays into opportunities for elevating your day.

Dive into a book

Instead of seeing the delay as an inconvenience, seize the chance to read a couple of chapters of your book. It can be hard to carve out time for this in our busy schedules, and away from the distraction of your television and household chores you’ll find it easier to concentrate.

Don’t carry a book with you when you travel? No problem – most airports and train stations have shops selling the latest bestsellers and the old classics you’ve always meant to read.

Listen to a podcast

If reading isn’t your thing, educate or entertain yourself with a podcast. These have soared in popularity recently, triggering a host of new shows so now there’s truly something for everyone.

The top podcasts for 2025 range from intense true crime exposés and factual history lessons to light-hearted lifestyle and comedy shows. You can access most on free streaming services via mobile apps.

Play mobile games

Prefer entertainment that’s more hands-on? Download games straight to your phone for hours of effortless fun. You could get a bingo app and experience contemporary takes on this old-school favourite or go for something decidedly modern that integrates advanced technology such as augmented reality.

Remember to wear headphones for the full experience, and to use your data rather than a public Wi-Fi network for games that require you to input personal information such as payment details.

Clear out your phone

It’s amazing how quickly data can build up in your phone. Even now RAM can store more than ever before, over time systems become saturated, slowing down your phone and crashing apps. Eventually you’ll reach a point where your phone is full, but regularly refining the data will help to optimise performance during your ownership and keep it working well for longer.

While waiting for your transport to arrive, go through the key areas of your phone and clear out unwanted data. This could include audiobooks you’ve finished, old messages and pictures and videos you’ve backed up elsewhere. Deleting videos and pictures is often the fastest way of freeing up space.

Write your shopping list

Heading home? Ensure you can make yourself a delicious and nutritious meal when you get in. Use a reliable website to browse recipes for your favourite dishes online or find inspiration if you want to try something new. Consider how much time you’ll have to make it and other important factors such as the season and what’s likely to be available at your local shop.

Once you know what you want, write shopping list with everything you need and any extra essentials such as breakfast foods and snacks. Double check what you need against the recipes, and ask housemates to confirm what you already have.