Turns out that I am not very good at waiting. I have just recently stumbled upon this little quirk and I must fix it… fast! I’ve just realized that my urgency of the day or moment may not be someone else’s top priority… A good lesson learned, however, it is important to find a way to manage the impatient waiting and still be productive!

Whether you are waiting on an important call, a response to your email, a follow through on an assignment, or simply waiting in a line up… I’ve written about being mindful of the moment you are in, but let’s face it, waiting is just so inefficient! I have a strong sense of urgency in all aspects of life, making waiting a huge obstacle!

Here are some tips I’ve learned to help me get through those impatient moments and maintain focus on my goals.

1. Change your attitude! Keep an open perspective and find the positive while you are waiting for your end result. If you are waiting on one last piece of your puzzle to complete the project, use your time wisely and review the work completed thus far.

2. Good things come to those who wait. Keep in mind that great things don’t happen instantly, and great work takes thoroughness, and thoroughness takes time.

3. Focus on the big picture. Try not to let every little glitch or fork in the road derail you from your goals. Remind yourself of what you are working towards and the purpose behind your task at hand and the time it may take to get there.

4. Change your strategy. If you are not getting the results you want, look at your strategy and adjust accordingly. Sometimes a quick switch in the approach will deliver the results you have been waiting for.

5. Offer your help! It is possible that you are waiting on completion of a project from someone who is overwhelmed with a large amount of work and other deadlines.

Practicing patience trains you to react to delays and difficulties with calmness. When life throws the unexpected your way or things aren’t going quite as planned, calmness keeps you from becoming derailed, allowing you to persevere when things get tough.