Great Responses to "What are you doing?"

The phone rings, you pick it up and say hello. The caller id informed you who it is, but you always say hello nonetheless, out of habit. The first question is "What are you doing?" As always, you answer, "Oh...Nothing" Come on, that's lame! You've got to be doing something, right?

The fact is, you may not be doing too much at the moment, but saying "I'm just clipping my toe nails" or, "I'm setting the clock on my microwave" just isn't going to cut it. I've come up with a few better ideas. Let's get creative, the next time you pick up the phone, you will certainly not be doing nothing. Try these.

You are....

At the gym - You are actually on your couch, but hey it's not much of a stretch, you are watching sports. Whoever is calling will be really impressed considering it's 9pm on a Saturday night. Such dedication.

Working on your novel - Or a scathing 200 word letter to the editor, but still you're writing something, and that's not nothing.

On a food drive - The caller may think you are helping the homeless, or donating your time to a worthy cause. So what if you're just at the grocery store picking up coffee creamer?

At a protest - Standing up for the little guy. You're always looking for ways to be involved. Okay, you saw them on the news, but you can protest in your own way. You left those witty comments on that website!

Entertaining guests - Let's see, there's you, the cat, and......the Fed Ex guy stopped by right?

At a foreign film festival- Sounds intriguing. A Netflix night is always fun.

Hiking- From the final parking spot in the Wal Mart parking lot. How many people can they fit in this place?

Fighting crime - You are part of the neighborhood watch team. Is it a team? Team sounds important so let's stick with that one. Anyway, as part of the team you prevent crime on your street daily, watch out punks.

Doing research - Should you start Drew Brees or Tom Brady this week? Setting your fantasy football lineup, you have to do your homework. This is serious, bragging rights are at stake.

At a fund raiser - Sounds better than working.

Cooking - It may only be microwave popcorn, but who's to say it's not a 5 course meal?

Here are a few more ideas:

• Building a robot
• Delivering bear cubs
• Sailing
• Sky Diving - and answering the phone!
• Curing Cancer
• At the game, race, match, bout, duel
• Stuck in an elevator
• Learning a foreign language
• Tutoring
• Walking a tightrope
• Chewing gum
• Swimming the English Channel
• Building a Habitat For Humanity house
• Performing an archaeological dig
• Fighting a forest fire
• At a Civil War reenactment
• Untangling your Christmas lights
• At a seminar
• Birdwatching (quiet please!)
• Deep sea fishing
• At Space camp
• Collecting stamps
• At the library (Shhh!)
• On a Safari
• Playing guitar
• Taking the Wonderlic Exam
• Organizing your itunes playlists
• Painting a self-portrait
• Writing a hub

So the next time your phone rings you will be prepared. You are doing things and going places. Your friends and family will get off the phone with you and wonder why they aren't grabbing life by the horns the way you are. You will get off the phone and go back to doing nothing.