Recently I was reading this New York Times article titled “How to Be a More Patient Person” and laughed to myself at how relatable the examples were. At some point, you’ve probably also clenched your jaw as the Hulu video buffers, huffed and puffed when stuck in a sluggish line at a coffee shop or been sent into a curse-filled tizzy over the slow car in the fast lane.
Reading this article reminded me that sometimes I could practice being more patient, especially as we approach the holiday season where simple everyday tasks start to seem like a hassle. Grocery store lines get longer and move slower, malls will be more crowded and when the snow it hits, it seems like everyone forgets how to drive. As I thought of all the little things that can test anyone’s patience from day to day, I came up with ways to keep calm.
Take a Deep Breath
Chances are whatever is making you angry isn’t really that big of a deal.
Meditation/ Yoga
I’ve recently started doing yoga and have found myself leaving feeling very calm and refreshed. Yoga and meditation are great ways to focus on nothing and give your body a peaceful break from the things going on around you. Even 5 minutes of meditation can make a big difference in your day.
Be realistic
When you’re making your plans for the day or week, make sure you’re allotting enough time for everything with buffers in between. If you leave for work early, that slow car in the fast lane doesn’t affect you. If you start your meeting at 8:30 instead of 8:00, you’ll have plenty of time to wait in the long coffee line.
Remember what Matters
Start or end your day making a list of things that you are grateful for. Most things that test our patience are never life or death and remembering what really matters will make you realize how the small things that send you into a tizzy really don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
