How to Stay Patient During Dull Moments

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methods

1Practicing Patience

2Entertaining Yourself

3Distracting Yourself

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Life is full of dull moments. Waiting at the airport, standing in line, or sitting in class can cause serious boredom. When that boredom mixes with frustration, people tend to become impatient, or even angry. Don't do this to yourself! By practicing patience, entertaining yourself, and/or distracting yourself you can keep boredom and frustration at bay. This way, you can glide through dull moments with grace and ease.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Practicing Patience

1. 
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   Accept that impatience comes from within. If you want to work on being patient, the first step is being able to recognize when impatience has arisen. It can be easy to think the source of frustration is outside of your control (for instance, when you are stuck in traffic), but the truth is, you always get to decide how to respond.

   • Try to stop and notice when you feel impatient, instead of letting your frustration get away from you.
   • You might say to yourself, “I feel impatient. That is a normal, natural response, and I am in control of it.”
2. 
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   Settle into the moment. Consciously choose to give up the fight. Concede that there is nothing you can do. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to relax. Allow this dull moment to pass without spending extra energy.

   • For example, if you are stuck in traffic, stop looking at the clock.
   • If necessary, call ahead to inform others that you will be late.
   • Then try to let it go! You might say, “I'm going to be late. Big deal.”
   • Try to feel the weight of gravity on your body as you settle into the moment.
   • Practicing these strategies will help you to stay calm in the moment, but if you practice them regularly, then they will become "learned" and a part of your daily and unconscious behaviors. This will allow you to become a more patient person over time.
3. 
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   Identify your symptoms of impatience. Now scan your body for the symptoms of impatience. Taking the time to notice and recognize each symptom is an effective way to calm down and soothe these symptoms. Additionally, recognizing what happens to your body when you grow impatient can help you to better identify impatience when it happens again. Some symptoms include:

   • Tightness in the neck, abdomen, or other areas.
   • Clenching jaw and/or fists.
   • Heart racing.
   • Flushed cheeks.
   • Body temperature rising.
4. 
   4
   Loosen your muscles. Begin taking some deep breaths. Each time you inhale, notice how you are making space inside your body. Each time you exhale, try to feel your muscles relaxing.

   • Move through each tight space, one at a time.
   • Repeat this process as many times as needed.
   • If you notice a knot that doesn't want to relax, give up trying to loosen it. Try accepting it instead.
5. 
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   Take a break. Practicing patience involves keeping your stress level at a manageable level. Taking mini-breaks—where you actually walk away, maybe go outside, and temporarily distance yourself from whatever is stressing you—can help. Simply step away for a few minutes and take a breather.
6. 
   6
   Count your breaths. If you find yourself in a real “red flag” moment of impatience, you can halt this moment using your breath. Taking slow measured breaths for just one minute can release calming neurohormones in your brain.

   • Inhale to a count of three.
   • Exhale to a count of three.
   • Slowly lengthen your breath cycles to counts of four or five.
   • It may be helpful to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth (but this is not required).
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Entertaining Yourself

1. 
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   Have a snack. If you find yourself in a dull moment, try eating something to pass the time. Whether you are stuck at the airport, bored on a road trip, or waiting in line at an amusement park, a small calorie boost can keep your spirits high. Try packing:

   • Unsalted mixed nuts
   • Carrot sticks with peanut butter or hummus
   • Popcorn
   • Fresh fruit
   • String cheese
2. 2
   Chew a piece of gum. Chewing gum can help you to focus your mind as well. Try having a stick of gum whenever you are feeling stressed, anxious, or bored.
3. 
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   Put in your headphones. With smart phones, many people have music, podcasts, and audiobooks right at their fingertips. If you know you are going to be doing some waiting, bring your phone and headphones along.

   • If you are driving, you should not wear headphones.
   • Instead, you can listen to music or audiobooks through your car radio.
   • If you are in a space where you can speak out loud, you can even use your smartphone to try learning a new language.
4. 
   4
   Open a book. Perhaps the most tried and true method of self-entertainment is reading a book. Look around: you'll see people reading on the bus, at the doctor's office, or even in line at the grocery store. Find a book or magazine that you enjoy, and keep it in your bag for when dull moments arise.

   • You can download e-books onto your smart phone or tablet.
   • Visit a local library to borrow books for free.
   • If you're not a big reader, try doing Sudoku or working on a crossword puzzle.
5. 
   5
   Strike up a conversation. An excellent way to pass the time and stay entertained is to talk to somebody around you. Striking up a conversation is a great way to learn something new and remain patient. Plus, you may even make a friend.

   • Open non-verbally with a smile, nod, or wave.
   • Make an observation: “Wow, these lines are long today!”
   • Ask for a small favor: “Can you unplug my laptop for me?”
   • Introduce yourself: “My name is [Kate] by the way.”
6. 
   6
   Play on your phone. If you are in a situation where you can use your phone, there are any number of ways you can entertain yourself! If you are connected to wifi, you have even more options. In case you need new ideas for passing the time with your phone in your hand, here are a few:

   • Check social media
   • Play an online game
   • Create an online wish list
   • Look up recipes
   • Text a friend
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Distracting Yourself

1. 
   1
   Get lost in your thoughts. If you are stuck in a dull situation, such as school or work, where entertaining yourself is not really possible, you can still find effective ways to distract yourself and pass the time. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply get lost in your own thoughts.

   • Recall a happy memory. Watch it play out like a movie.
   • Daydream about the future. Think about next weekend or ten years from now.
   • Recall a favorite movie or television show. Think about your favorite character.
   • Think about your favorite song. Can you sing all the lyrics in your head?
   • Make sure to focus on positive thoughts, and avoid ruminating on negative thoughts.
2. 
   2
   People watch. Most dull moments involve waiting, and waiting almost always involves being around a bunch of other people. This creates the perfect opportunity to “people watch,” which is a great way to pass the time.

   • Look at the other people who are waiting.
   • Try imagining what their lives are like. What details can you discern about them?
   • If you like fashion, pay attention to what they are wearing. Could you build an outfit from the pieces they have on?
   • Notice relationships and interactions. Imagine how some of these people first met.
3. 
   3
   Play classroom bingo. With a bit of planning beforehand, you can play a hilarious game of classroom bingo by yourself or with your friends. Either create your own bingo board, or download one from the internet. Then mark off squares as you encounter them. When you fill an entire row, you win. If you're playing with friends, you can think of a prize for the winner. Some ideas for squares include:

   • Professor wearing a sweater vest.
   • Person who realizes they're in the wrong class.
   • Annoying PDA couple.
   • Person consuming an entire meal.
   • Person wearing a sweatshirt for a different school.
4. 
   4
   Pay attention. If you are in class or at work, it may be impossible for you to truly entertain or distract yourself. In these instances, you might try paying attention instead. Lectures will go by much faster if you work to engage the material and take notes. Your work day will pass more effectively if you try a little harder to engage with your work. It's not fun! But sometimes paying attention or trying to work harder is the best way to stay patient during dull moments.
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