Patience is a virtue amidst the hustle and bustle of modern living. Nowadays we place too much stock in quick results without presenting awareness of the path that gets us there.
Studies show that being patient helps us achieve our goals, promotes good health, and enhances gratification. Whether we’re stuck in traffic on the morning commute or binge-watching your favourite Netflix series — good things come to those who wait.
Learning to become more patient is a rewarding yet time-consuming journey. Here are four unique ways to get started in your own time.
Master chess
Chess is a classic match of wit that anyone can learn, but few can master. Watching competitions between talented players, it becomes clear that patience is a tool which sets you above the field.
Games like reward players who analyse the board and plot out a strategy ahead of time.
With patience, you gain an advantage over the opposition by reading the game and learning from opponents’ moves.
Therefore, learning the intricacies of chess is one of the most effective ways to develop a sense of patience. This is due to the fact it rewards logical thinking above rash decision making.
Winging the game and repeatedly reacting to your opponent’s moves will lead you down a losing path. But by observing and learning opposition tendencies, you can build a winning strategy around them.
Does chess seem like the game for you? Classic sets are easy to come by online or offline. But, free websites like Chess.com and Chess24 mean you can get playing right away against AI and online opponents.
Take up yoga
Sometimes physical activities can slow the pace of the modern world and teach patience along with a sense of consciousness. Yoga connects your mind with the body and practising the exercise helps you develop patience too.
Take it from a beginner, you’ll be stumbling over a lot when you first start. Learning the ropes of yoga takes time to perfect so you’ll need a degree of patience (and a cushioned mat) just to get off the ground.
But as you centre your balance and focus on breathing, frustration and nerves will quickly float away into a mindful state. No longer do you fall victim to the fast pace of daily life, yoga gives you a chance to slow down and stop chasing the clock.
If you’re interested in taking up yoga to become more patient, try searching your local area for gyms that hold regular classes. This enables you to learn alongside others in front of a live teacher. Or if you’re not comfortable in such a setting, you can take part at home by emulating routines online.
Play solitaire
Chess isn’t the only game which helps to develop patience. And unlike chess, solitaire teaches you to be patient against yourself.
Solitaire is a brain training game to its core and winning is all about getting the maximum return on investment. This means being steady and making calculated risks. A single bad placement can spark a string of bad moves, eventually leading to a dead-end.
As a largely solo card game, Solaire pits you against your own better judgment, thereby, forcing you to give yourself options until the end. And without an opponent to slip up and capitalize upon, your ability to think through moves becomes even more important.
There are a tonne of ways to play solitaire — Spider, Freecell, Pyramid, and patience among others — along with a variety of different platforms to enjoy these games on.
If you prefer interacting with something physical, then a simple set of cards will do. In which case, a standard 52-card deck will do nicely. Alternatively, you can play solitaire for free with sites such as Arkadium and 247solitaire for added flexibility. This way you can play on the go and maximise your practice time. Also, many of these sites come with guides that sharpen your skills with tips and tricks.
Practice the art of waiting
Instant gratification is a fleeting kick that has negative implications in the long run. Like ordering fast food, the rush of endorphins will subside into a feeling of bloated fatigue.
Waiting for things can make us feel more fulfilled and content. By being more patient you create space to make clear decisions and discover what’s most important. So, consider waiting that extra few minutes to gain clarity and perspective.
Although this will result in a greater sense of gratification, learning the art of patience is not easily mastered. Start by setting yourself small, but manageable tasks.
For example, spread out your favourite Netflix series over a few weeks rather than bingeing it all in one session (Stranger Things isn’t going anywhere). After a while, you can build up to bigger gaps like waiting for holidays you’ve booked years in advance or buckling down at work to earn that big promotion.
Either way, practising the waiting game isn’t a mystical power, it’s a malleable skill that has many real-world applications.
Recommended reading: 3 Ways To Look and Feel Your Best
Patience is a silent skill that goes unnoticed, yet underpins our daily life. Often drowned out by angry drivers and line-cutters, a patient person is the one who remains calm and goes the extra mile when it might not suit them.
These have been four of our favourite ways to practice patience and we hope you find them useful too.
Rodney Laws loves nothing more than to build ecommerce websites and share his knowledge with fledgling online business owners and brands. When he’s not doing work in the online world, Rodney likes hiking, photography, and visiting new countries. You can see what he’s up to by checking out EcommercePlatforms.io or following him on Twitter @EcomPlatformsio.
