How to Be Patient

Whether you're waiting on a colleague's report or counting the hours to your vacation, sometimes it's hard to be patient.

But, losing your patience can affect your focus, harm your career prospects, and damage your relationships.

Fortunately, we can all learn how to be more patient!

First, identify why you've become impatient. Notice how you react to certain situations, people or words. Are factors like tiredness or hunger contributing to your impatience? Make a list of any triggers you discover. That way, you'll be ready the next time they strike.

Next, learn to manage the symptoms of impatience. Relax any tense muscles and take slow, deep breaths. This will lower your heart rate and refocus your mind. Consciously slow down your speech and movement – simply acting more patient can make you feel more patient!

Next, focus on longer-term strategies. Learn to manage your emotions and resist perfectionism   . Keep in mind: how you react to situations is, ultimately, down to you.

Finally, remind yourself that impatience rarely gets things moving faster. In fact, it can have the opposite effect.

Although some people are naturally patient, the rest of us need to work at it. So, keep going, even when it tests your patience!

To learn more about how to be patient, see the article   that accompanies this video.