Does the phrase, “Great things take time,” frustrate you? Or seeing an infinite line at Starbucks? Or even walking behind a slow walker? If so, we are in the same boat. As I’ve gone through life, I’ve found that my patience tolerance is significantly lower compared to most people. In the dictionary, impatienceis defined as the intolerance of anything that thwarts, delays, or hinders and also as an eager desire for relief or change; restlessness. Although I see my impatience as a way to avoid wasting my time, I had not considered that others might perceive it in a negative way. According to a MindToolsarticle, others may see your impatience as insensitive and conceited, and even think of you as a careless decision-maker. Upon realizing how my impatience may affect the perception of my personal character, I was eager to learn how to recognize my lack of patience and how to prevent its severity.

People can become impatient for a variety of reasons, such as when my professor continues a long, drawn out lecture with only one minute of class remaining. But it is important to find out what triggers your impatience, so you can become more aware of the energy you exert to others. It can be helpful to write down the instances in which you feel most impatient, or even asking your friends and family when they notice your irritated behavior (which they will probably answer without hesitation). Lastly, make sure you are not simply hungry or thirsty because we often do not realize how such physical factors can impact our attitudes.

If you’re having a hard time recognizing your impatience, consider symptoms, such as hand clenching, muscle tension, shallow breathing, restlessness, irritability, anxiety or nervousness, and the act of rushing. If you feel yourself exhibiting one of these behaviors, consciously reverse them. For example, I always find myself clenching my toes or tensing my muscles. Now that I know this is a major sign of impatience, I can consciously relax my muscles and my overall body.

Another way to calm your impatience is deep breathing, which slows your heart rate, promoting relaxation. Also slowing yourself down by moving and speaking slowly will allow you feel and appear more composed. Lastly, impatient people can significantly benefit from actively listening to others during a conversation, giving them full attention without interruption (which is a sign of trying to speed up the conversation… rude).

Although some of you may have become impatient while reading this lengthy article, I think the ultimate goal for people with a low patience tolerance, including myself, should be to find out what triggers my impatience and how to properly adjust my mind and body. I had not realized that displaying impatient behavior influenced the way people thought of me; therefore, I will make a conscious effort to improve myself. I hope these little tips will help you do the same! Just remember, in any situation, become aware of your body language, stay engaged with others during conversation, and relax.