There are very few people who like to wait, but every now and then we all have to wait for something (or someone). We've got advice for you on how to make time go by faster, whether you're trying to get through the unexpected wait of a few minutes or have to go through weeks or months.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Dealing with Shorter Wait Times
Step 1. Immerse yourself in a good reading book
Whether you're waiting in line, waiting for your boyfriend to finish getting ready for your date or really looking forward to an important day; time will pass faster if you can find a way to distract yourself. As you read, you will be carried away by the story or topic, making it easier to take your mind off the waiting time.
- Carrying a thin book or electronic reading device in your bag to deal with the unexpected is quite easy.
- Also, if you're nervous about the upcoming vacation or big date, reading a book is a great way to gain knowledge as well as distract.
Step 2. Set up other methods of distraction
If time seems to be running slower and if you don't have a book or magazine ready to read (or if you just don't feel like reading today), find another interesting activity.
Good ways to distract yourself include watching a movie, following the latest popular television show, playing a game, or knitting
Step 3. Move your body, especially outdoors
If you can leave the waiting area, consider going for a walk or a jog to distract yourself. Fresh air and new sights can help you deal with irritation and impatience.
If you're waiting for a flight or a meeting, for example, you may not be able to leave the venue but still be able to take a short walk. You don't need to stay in the waiting area outside the airport departure gate, considering that there are signs containing flight information in the regular waiting room. Moving your body and stretching your limbs can help you deal with waiting time
Step 4. Listen to music
Music can have a huge effect on your mood, so if you're looking for other ways to distract yourself or suppress your anxiety while waiting, get ready with a good set of music.
Listening to music is a great step to combine with the previous step (moving your body): if you're worried that you're still thinking about what you're looking forward to (for example, maybe you have an important job interview in the morning), plug in your earphones as you start to move. It's hard to worry about waiting while you're trying to sing to your favorite beat
Step 5. Pay attention to people
There's nothing wrong with reading a good book or using your phone as a way to distract yourself when faced with long or unexpected waiting times. But remember that you may have a source of entertainment at hand: try to observe all the interesting characters around you.
- Without needing to be annoying or obnoxious, do some eavesdropping. But don't delve into other people's private lives, as it can lead to a lot of trouble and drama if you do.
- Create background stories about the people you observe: write them down as entertainment for yourself or send your observations in the form of a text message to a friend.
Step 6. Make full use of your time
Think of the time you have to spend waiting as an unexpected gift to take advantage of instead of something that feels like a burden. We understand that this is easier said than done!
- Of course things like having to wait at the doctor's office 45 minutes past your appointment can be annoying. But instead of grumbling and checking your watch every few seconds, do what you can on your to-do list.
- Use the time you have to spend waiting to clear your email inbox, write thank-you notes (keep a few blank greeting cards in your bag), file your nails, keep a journal, etc.
Step 7. Divide the time into shorter stages
Perhaps you are overwhelmed by the possibility of completing a long and tiring exercise or an equally long and difficult exam. If time is passing so slowly and the end of your suffering seems farther than the horizon, try a mental trick of dividing your task or waiting time into shorter, more manageable chunks. This step can help the time pass faster.
- For example, you may have to run a 400-meter track 12 times (for people unfamiliar with running, this is a strenuous exercise: 400 meters is equal to one round of a 1/4 mile running track; if you do it quickly, the result is almost like a sprint). Instead of counting backwards from 12, imagine that the exercise is divided into four sets of three rounds each. Your focus will soon be on the first set and you only need to complete three rounds. When you have completed the set, there will only be three more sets remaining.
- Perhaps you are afraid of taking a difficult general exam that will take all day. But instead of thinking that you have six hours of exam time to suffer, focus on completing the separate sections of the exam: the quantitative reasoning section, the language section, the writing section, etc.
Step 8. Save your watch or clock
We've all played this game before, trying to deal with very long waiting times: "I won't look at the clock until half an hour has passed," just to finally looked at the clock and was disappointed to find that only five minutes had passed.
- If you're trying to make time go by faster (for example, when you're enduring delayed departures while traveling or having a bad day at work) looking at the clock too much will only amplify your irritation and boredom.
- If possible, keep your watch or watch out of sight. If you really need to be ready at a certain time, set an alarm and make it a point not to look at the clock before it goes off.
Step 9. Keep your body cool
Research shows that body temperature appears to have an influence on our perception of time: the hotter we are, the slower our perception of time. On the other hand, time seems to pass (slightly) faster when our body temperature is cooler.
While there's no guarantee that time will suddenly pass very quickly once you take off your jacket so you don't overheat, it can't hurt to give it a try
Step 10. Take a nap
Remember how scary and boring long car trips were when you were a kid? But also remember how good it feels when you fall asleep and wake up just as your parents park at their destination? Sleep certainly makes time go by faster, so if you can take a short nap or go to bed earlier, you'll be able to shorten your waiting time when you wake up.
If you're having trouble falling asleep because you're overly enthusiastic about tomorrow's plans (or nervous about what awaits you), try meditation or relaxation techniques to help you fall asleep faster
Method 2 of 2: Dealing with Longer Waiting Times
Step 1. Focus your attention on the desired end result
Waiting is often not easy, but waiting can be very difficult to handle when we are forced to endure for days, weeks, or even longer. Time seems to stop when we're forced to wait longer than we'd like, but it really helps to remind yourself of what you're really looking forward to or aiming for.
- Maybe you're trying to get through the day-to-day pressures of an odd holiday job that you need to pay for college. The holiday season can feel endless when you're stuck in a job you hate. But reminding yourself of why you are committed to the job each day will help to get you through it.
- For motivation, consider keeping a copy of your next semester's class schedule in your pocket at work, or wearing a pin with your college badge on it.
Step 2. Know that good things do come to those who are patiently waiting
Of course we want the thing we want to be there when we want it, but waiting and working hard to get something adds value to the thing we await.
You'll get a lot of benefit from a new computer if it's suddenly given to you, but you'll appreciate it even more if the satisfaction of getting a new computer is put off. You may hate having to deal with old-fashioned computers, but waiting (and having to stick with that old computer for a long time) will make your new computer look a lot more awesome than the old one when you finally get it
Step 3. Take up a hobby
Whenever time seems to slow down to the point of stopping, we can better deal with waiting time by finding ways to distract ourselves. If you are faced with longer waiting times, finding ways to fill your time becomes even more important. Taking up a hobby that allows you to develop your talents and explore your interests is one of the best ways to get through the long wait.
- For example, you may be separated from loved ones and are facing many lonely weeks before being able to get back together. It's fine to spend some time designing a welcome for someone you care about, but if all you're doing is focusing on something that's still a long way off, your feelings of loneliness and impatience at this point are likely to escalate and may become unbearable.
- Now is the perfect time for anyone to start practicing marathon running, learning gardening, making wood crafts, making the perfect cake or bread, etc.
Step 4. Try as much as possible to think positively
If you're waiting for something with an uncertain outcome-an exam score or a medical exam result, for example-there are good reasons for you to have an optimistic outlook and look to the future with a handful of hope.
- For example, you may be able to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and your healing process may improve if you are able to maintain a positive view of your situation.
- There is evidence that negative emotions can slow down our perception of time. Our time is more focused on what we experience when we are depressed, anxious, or bored, so it will feel as if time is moving slower.
Step 5. Allow yourself to feel moments of doubt or negative thoughts
While you'll be able to cope better with long waits and uncertain times if you're able to maintain a positive attitude, sometimes it's natural to feel sad and pessimistic about your situation. If you put too much pressure on yourself to be optimistic all the time, you'll only become more upset with yourself when you can't maintain a consistently positive outlook.
- There are actually several benefits to having a (slightly) pessimistic outlook. For example, if you end up getting a bad score on an exam, you won't feel cheated.
- Spending a little time imagining the worst case scenario will better prepare you for a bad outcome that hopefully doesn't happen. If the worst does happen, you are probably well prepared to move forward.
Step 6. Go with the flow
This waiting game is all about striking a balance: Try your best to stay positive, but be willing to give yourself a break and not fight too hard with your negative thoughts. Several studies have shown that when we try too hard to regulate our own emotions, our perception of time is negatively affected.
For example, in a recent study, participants who were asked to remain emotionally neutral while watching a tear-jerking sad movie trailer rated the footage significantly longer than those who weren't asked to control their emotions
Step 7. Focus on other people
Turning your attention outside and finding ways to help others is a great way for you to get through the long wait. By finding activities to make time pass a little faster you are not only helping yourself, you are actually making a positive influence on the lives of other people.
- Volunteering at a local soup kitchen, teaching local kids, helping an elderly neighbor garden-there are many ways to use your talents and skills to help the community in your neighborhood.
- One of the most effective ways to find happiness and fulfillment in your own life is not to make personal happiness your explicit goal, but instead to make it a goal to make other people happy.
- Being happy and enjoying what you do will ultimately help your mission to be patient. You've probably heard the term that time seems to pass faster when you're having fun and there is a number of studies to indicate that our perception of time actually goes faster when we're having fun.
Step 8. Live in the present
While it's important to have goals to reach (and look forward to) and even though we sometimes have to go through tough times, it's important that you don't let your life go to waste as you plan for the future.
- Write down what is going well in your life and the sources of your happiness. This will help you maintain a positive outlook and keep things in perspective.
- Make sure to always make time for fun when the opportunity presents itself!
