I think we can all agree that eyeballing entities outside our windows on the motorway for a (not so) enthralling game of ‘I Spy’ is the epitome of boredom. ‘I Spy with my little eye something beginning with C…’ would be the obvious one right? Please tell me you guessed it…
Or perhaps you’re partial to poring over pizzas, pasta and pistachios – Ooooo! There’s one for the shopping list memory game, at least a little unorthodox to the oranges you ordinarily chuck in the group’s trolley. I can only ever recall adding apples or bananas. Seriously…?! I hate my three-year old self for not being more inventive.
To redeem myself, I’ve sculpted a scrupulous structure of suggestions to bring creativity to the contrastive car journeys you may traverse this half term…
Be more creative with: Music (see if you can spot the subtle song references)
Perfect for: Long journeys
I know the feeling. That one of scouring FM after FM, only to discover the stations somewhat blur into one. You change up Grimmy and Greg James on Radio 1 to tune into Capital or Rock FM, and find yourself trapped in an inescapable cycle of déjà vu. And not one station will set you freeeeeeee ♫. But don’t let this deter you too drastically. Regional radio stations can render and reel off a random mix of music, underground genres and those obscure one hit wonders that you wouldn’t think to play off the top off your head. Funnily enough, dejavufm is one of them!
If Spotify, SoundCloud, or CDs are more up your street, you could try tailoring the genre of music to the type of journey you’re going on, or to your destination unknown unknown ♫. For example, if you’re leaving for the airport, a summer song playlist should get you sun cream ready. Or if you’re going to Ibiza, it’s pretty obvious.
Nothing says bonding like a strangled cat in the distance! So gather your tone-deaf troops and forget The X Factor. This is your one shot. Your one opportunity ♫… to sing like nobody’s listening! You could even learn the lyrics together.
Be more creative with: New roads
Perfect for: Regular journeys
Navigational noggin… ENGAGE!! Rolling down the same route on routine journeys has a way of falling flat. You’ve normally merged onto the motorway faster than you can say national speed limit, oblivious to that parallel stretch of open country road that you could be completely missing. If you’re going somewhere this week that you go often, why not spare a few morning moments to map out a different route? Tap your new route into Sally the sat nav, or Mrs TomTom if, like mine, your sense of direction got lost somewhere a long time ago. It’ll be a talking point for the little‘uns and you could tell them about the places you’re passing through.
Dreams of ice-creams while the sun beams? Or lollies like you’re on your jollies in your thoughts? Plan in picturesque pit-stops to pitch up makeshift camp and take in the views for a short while.
Be more creative with: Your surroundings
Perfect for: Traffic-jams
We’re not going to play ‘I Spy.’ Or the shopping list game either. Just as a matter of principle following me tearing them to shreds earlier. Instead, to alleviate the symptoms of journey boredom, I’m going to share with you a traffic-jam survival game which I remember from growing up myself. Let’s call it ‘Household huzzaaa!’ You choose a room, typical of your bog-standard home, and then list as many items as possible which belong in that room. You bat back and forth between all participants until you’ve finally exhausted every nook and cranny, then it’s onto the next room. Yes, I guess it’s sort of like the shopping list game… but kudos to my mum for putting her own spin on it.
As I’ve reached adulthood, I’ve alternatively found myself playing that Countdown word game with reg plates, spelling out as many words as possible from the letters on them. Make of that what you will! Maybe I’m easily amused, or maybe there’s one for you to try…
