Modern life has brought along many changes, we have mini computers in our pockets, we can have video calls with loved ones across the globe, and we’re able find the answer to almost anything within seconds. Life has changed dramatically in the past few decades and while most of those changes are welcomed, it has brought about some unexpected consequences. One of those is that we, as a collective, are becoming less patient. Do you feel like impatience is getting the best of you? Read on to learn more about how it’s manifesting and what you can do about it.
Our Modern Lives
We live in a “Get it Now” period where shopping for almost anything is just a click of a button away. If you want to watch a show, there’s no waiting for it to air, you simply log onto Netflix and press play, whenever you want. Gone are the days of sitting by the radio hoping your favourite song starts playing, to quickly press the record button on your boombox, hoping to not miss too much of the beginning. Now it’s as easy as opening your phone and searching for the song. Everything seems to be at our finger tips these days and this is affecting how we feel about everything else. In a study commissioned by 4imprint, a products retailer, almost 20% of respondents said they were so used to getting things instantly from the Internet, they expected it in other areas of their lives too. The independent study was commissioned by the company with findings published in a new report following the growth of its 1-day express service for people with tight deadlines to meet.
We don’t have the same lulls we used to. If we’re waiting somewhere for a train, you bet almost every person on the platform is going to have their phones out connected to something or someone, rather than looking around, taking their surroundings in. Due to these tiny little smart computers, we’re able to inject work or entertainment into tiny little pauses in our daily lives. We’re used to constantly being on the go, so it’s not surprising that 41% of survey respondents said that nothing is more frustrated than wasted time.
What Can We Do About It?
If you’ve grown up in this fast-paced, instant-everything culture, it can be hard to slow down and develop your patience muscle. One of the best ways you can do that is by forcing yourself to slow down and detach. It can be so good for your mental health to allow your mind to have pauses in the day where it’s not scrolling through your newsfeed. Meditation and yoga are also great ways to relax the mind, but anything where you’re forced to focus on just one thing can be a good way. Going for a run through your neighbourhood, catching up with a friend and leaving your phone in your bag or at home, or even taking a long hot bath. Being intentional about where you spend your time and focusing on things that help you relax are great ways to improve your patience.
