By – Deva Narayan

5th August 2024: A common thread in our increasingly technological and instant-results society, impatience can best be defined as an overarching sense of frustration that often knows no bounds. And while low levels of impatience can increase productivity and make decision-making more efficient, for the chronically impatient – suffering everything from weakened work performance to damaged relationships – overall quality of life suffers.

Damage in Work

In professional environments, impatience has deleterious effects on productivity, job satisfaction, and relationships among colleagues. Impatient people tend to be uneasy about not making decisions quickly enough because they are aware that hasty decisions to failure, and are also less likely to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. It is usually more advantageous to think through new situations from multiple perspectives and in greater depth because this increases the quality of decisions. Moreover, one should not always rush into doing things with great speed because high-quality performances can be compromised as a result of skipping important stages or details.

Team collaboration is also impacted by impatience. Those who are impatient often struggle to work well with others, as they tend to interrupt, look for quick solutions, and get annoyed when having to be a team member. This can result in an uncomfortable and unproductive work environment. Constantly feeling rushed can also create chronic stress which causes burnout over time. Impatient people tend to worry more and not be happy, leading to decreased overall health and performance.

Impatience in Personal Lives

The effects of impatience extend far beyond the workplace, however. It can impact personal relationships and individual well-being in many negative ways. Impatient people may become easily frustrated with others who don’t work or act as quickly as they do. This can lead to irritability and decreased tolerance of others which can cause conflictual interpersonal dynamics and weakened personal relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. In addition to the impact on relationships, however, living in a near-constant state of impatience contributes to high stress and anxiety levels and prevents individuals from being able to experience the present moment or appreciate all that is good in their lives.

Personal development typically involves time, effort, and dedication. For some people, this means that personal development demands tolerance to the fact that it can take considerable time for new skills to be learned, hobbies to be perfected, or long-term goals to be achieved. In contrast, impatience is likely to encourage someone to give up before they have had a chance to reap the rewards of their efforts and will lead them to make rash decisions similar to those made by impatient people in a professional setting. Poor decision-making may result in the individual engaging in activities that are potentially harmful for example smoking or excessive drinking.

Ways of Training Patience

Becoming more patient thus requires practice at increasing your tolerance for frustration or annoyance when you don’t get what you want. One way to do this is by cultivating mindfulness, or a nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. Mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and self-reflection direct attention into the here and now, slowing down the mind’s rapid-fire thinking that can fuel impatience. By bringing greater calm and presence to daily activities (even while standing in line), you may feel less inclined to rush.

Impatience, while common in today’s fast-paced world, can have significant adverse effects on both work and personal lives. By recognizing the impacts of impatience and implementing strategies to cultivate patience, individuals can enhance their productivity, relationships, and overall well-being. Embracing a more patient approach allows for better decision-making, improved quality of work, and a more fulfilling personal life.