How to stop “waiting mode” from affecting your whole day

How many times have you waited at home for a parcel that’s arriving between 8 am and 7 pm? Or have an appointment at 3 pm that seems to put your whole day on hold?

These scenarios are common, but they can also be infuriating. In some cases, they can change the shape of your entire day. 

Read on to find out more about how “waiting mode” can wipe out hours, and how to shift away from it. 

The uncertainty of waiting can cause stress, anxiety and even lead to missing major life events

The above scenarios can be incredibly frustrating; technically, you have the whole day available, but it can feel like you can’t do anything with it. If you’re waiting in, even jumping in the shower or hanging the washing out in the garden can feel risky, in case you miss the all-important doorbell. 

Similarly, having an appointment can also bring on this sense of “waiting”, especially if it’s in the afternoon or later in the day. Your mind can become preoccupied with it, not wanting to get distracted and forget, or be late. 

In fact, these situations can cause some real issues. 

According to InPost: 

• • Nearly 60% of Brits say they struggle with delivery-related stress
  • Consumers spend an average of 3.2 hours a month waiting in for a parcel and a further 2.3 hours collecting or rescheduling packages
  • Brits receive an average of six parcels a month
  • 1 in 10 people have missed major life moments such as weddings and job interviews, due to delivery issues.

If you find the uncertainty makes you unable to focus or commit to anything while you wait, there are some practical approaches you could try. 

Reframe your thinking

Rather than thinking “I can’t do anything until they arrive”, try to reframe your thoughts as “What can I achieve before they arrive”? 

Choose activities which you can do in short bursts and which can be easily interrupted when the doorbell rings, such as cleaning out a cupboard, doing the ironing, or sorting through paperwork. 

Keeping a list of small jobs you’ve been waiting to tackle can be a good idea, as you’ll get a real sense of achievement as you tick each one off. 

Use tracking or ask for updates

Many companies now offer parcel tracking and live arrival estimates, which can take away a lot of the guesswork and at least give you a shorter window to work with. If you’re waiting in for a tradesperson, you could ask them to text or call you when they’re on their way. 

Have something enjoyable lined up to do

You don’t have to be busy to be productive. You could watch a film, read a book, or listen to a favourite podcast. Whatever you choose, it’s about making the most of your time, rather than wasting it. 

A late appointment can often seem to put the rest of the day on hold

If you find yourself pacing around and unable to focus because you have an appointment later in the day, you’re not alone. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, in a study of 22,000 people, those with higher levels of anxiety reported poorer working memory performance. This could lead to an inability to concentrate, being unable to retain information, or finding yourself unable to follow instructions. This kind of anticipatory anxiety is common before a major event, but “waiting mode” can pause your whole day even for a routine appointment. 

While waiting mode isn’t a clinical term, it’s widely recognised, particularly within neurodivergent communities. It can overlap with certain traits, especially those found in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

However, this type of nervous anticipation can be experienced by anyone, and there are some steps you could take to counter it.

3 steps to beat waiting mode

1. Set a defined boundary

Working backwards and setting yourself timescales can help you to feel more in control. For example:

• • Your appointment is at 3 pm.
  • You need to leave home at 2.30 pm.
  • Start getting ready at 2 pm.

This can help you to understand that the time up until 2 pm is freely available. Setting an alarm can also help, so you’re not constantly clock-watching. 

2. Choose activities which fit in your available time

Once you know how long you’ve got, you can break the day down into chunks and figure out what you can realistically fit in. If you do this in 30-minute blocks, this can help you feel reassured you’re not overplanning. 

This could be doing some household tasks, taking a short walk, or replying to emails, for example. Again, you don’t have to be “busy” – watching television is easily broken down into half-hour episodes. 

3. Be prepared

If you’re agitating about what you might need to remember, doing anything practical in advance can set your mind at rest. 

• • If you need to take anything with you, have it packed and ready by the door.
  • Plan what you’re going to wear.
  • Check your route beforehand so you’re confident you know where you’re going.
  • Write down any questions that might be useful for your appointment.

Once you have these things sorted, you might find it easier to focus your attention elsewhere for the remaining time. 

Get in touch

When you contact us, we won’t keep you waiting. We’re happy to help with any financial matters, please email us at info@harperlees.co.uk or call 01277 350560 to find out more.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future