What To Do While Waiting For an Oil Change

An oil change can take a while. So what should you do while it's happening? I know that when I go for an oil change I make sure to prepare myself. You can't drive away, because you just surrendered your car to the mechanics for an oil change, and walking somewhere isn't always an option.

One of the more basic things that always amuses me until the oil change is finished is simply bringing a book. I make sure that it's a book that is very interesting. That way, I am completely engrossed in it and can't even realize how much time has passed. I make sure not to bring a book that is difficult to read or takes a lot of brain power. For me, that will guarantee that I will not be paying attention to the book, and will be very impatient to get this whole process over with. Bringing an mp3 player helps with this too. It isolates me, blocking the often very noisy environment of the mechanic's garage. I just slip in my ear buds and start reading. Before I know it, the mechanic is finished and I'm on my way again.

Something else that I can do while waiting is bring a portable video player, either in the form of a laptop, tablet, or an actual portable video player. This engages two of my senses, my eyes and ears. Again, I usually bring a movie along that I love and will pull me quickly into the story. This ensures that I don't get distracted by the activity in the garage and that the time will pass quickly. Something action packed usually fills that void for me. But always make sure to bring headphones, because if you don't, you will probably not even be able to hear the movie, which will ruin the experience.

Another tactic that I have taken in the past is to bring a small project with me that I need to work on, whether it be work related, or for people in high school or college, some homework to do. Might as well get some work done while you wait. This turns a waiting time into something productive.

For those talented people that can knit or crochet, that's always something good to bring while waiting. This will keep your hands busy and take your mind off of waiting. If you combine that with listening to music, the distraction will be even more effective.

Another simple tactic would be to just call a friend, as long as you have enough minutes for that. Talking with a good friend usually relaxes me and distracts me from what is going on around me, so much so sometimes that I keep walking past the place that I'm supposed to be turning. So not always the best thing, talking on the phone with a friend. But it's the perfect thing to keep me occupied while I am waiting for my oil change to be completed by the mechanic.