Mindful Waiting and Mindfulness

Waiting in long lines can be frustrating. It can make you feel annoyance, boredom, or impatience. Also, waiting can make you anticipate, be excited, and worry depending on the situation. Waiting can be difficult, but it can make you feel uncomfortable, sad, and feel discouraged. Yet, waiting can have a positive or a negative effect on one’s thoughts. 

It is necessary to understand how you feel as you wait. Writing about it can be useful for processing the feeling of waiting. The following questions can help you write in your journal. Does waiting make you overthink? Do other thoughts come to your mind as you wait? 

Do you feel excited? Do you have doubts? What are you looking forward to? Answering these questions might make you feel calm as you wait. Regardless of what you are waiting, do breathing techniques and listen to your body. Using your senses, calming down as you focus on your breathing, and being aware of your surroundings can help you practice mindful waiting. 

Mindful waiting can be practiced waiting in an extensive line. Yet, mindful waiting can also be practiced as you wait for public transportation, in the waiting room for your appointment, or waiting for a movie to start. Another way is to practice mindful waiting with your journal, lying in bed while holding a pillow or stuff animal, or sitting in silence before a group presentation. Waiting and mindfulness can be practiced safely and with gratitude. Begin by inhaling slowly and gently exhaling as you let go of worrisome thoughts. 

If you are too excited to go to sleep, lie down or sit up on your bed and hold a pillow. Hold the pillow gently and begin inhaling as you think about your social excitement, excitement goal, or excitement of something new. Close your eyes and carefully listen to your racing thoughts. Slowly think about one thought at a time and hug your pillow as you exhale. Open your eyes and listen to your surroundings. 

As you wait, think about what you look forward to and smile. Continue holding the pillow and say positive statements as you continue feeling calm. Then say thank you and let go of the pillow. Add more pillows to support your neck and lie down. By this time, you might get sleepy or simply feel comfortable with your thoughts. 

Additionally, mindful waiting can assist in accepting your racing thoughts and to appreciate the opportunity for personal growth. Mindful waiting can be done in bed before going to sleep. Do not focus on sleep before practicing mindful waiting. Do focus on those thoughts that cause excitement and the thoughts that keep you awake. Another way to practice mindful waiting is sitting on a chair, a bench, stool, or sofa. 

You can use a journal, notebook, or diary as you wait. Use journal prompts, thematic questions, or writing words in a bubble or in hand drawn ladder shapes. Draw a ladder with a ruler. It does not have to look like a realistic ladder, but drawing can help to visualize the ladder. In each square, write a word about what you are waiting for. 

On the top of the ladder, write what, who, or the waiting is all about. Shade or color in each square. Then wait with positive and hope. Waiting with hope can permit you to relax as you wait for the outcome. Observe your body’s sensations as you are sitting, standing, or laying down. 

Walking can also help as you wait. Although you might feel nervous pacing up and down; It is recommended to walk slowly, observe, and keep moving forward to helping you relax. Mindful walking and mindful waiting can be practiced together. Self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-compassion can also be practiced with mindful waiting. Seek professional help if the waiting is too intense causing overthinking, worrying, or sadness. 

Keep in mind that waiting can make you develop skills for self-improvement and personal growth. Mindfulness and mindful waiting can be helpful for reducing stress. It can change your mindset and can permit you to accept the outcome. The more you practice mindful waiting, you will be able to practice self-control and self-awareness. Below are websites about more ways to practice mindful waiting. 

 

The Waiting Place-The Wellbeing Collective:

The Waiting Place - how to handle uncertainty with mindfulness — THE WELLBEING COLLECTIVE

Wait-A Mindfulness Practice for Waiting in Line:

WAIT: A Mindfulness Practice for Waiting in Line - Left Brain Buddha

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