We’ve all been there, waiting in line and feeling like time is moving at the speed of a tortoise. Time has the tendency to drag, whether you’re at the grocery store, waiting for a seat at a restaurant, or even playing online slots and waiting for the next spin. It’s interesting to note that it has more to do with how our brains perceive time than it does with the clock.
We do not see time as linear. Perfect seconds and minutes are not how the brain functions. Rather, it reacts to our surroundings, degree of involvement, and emotional condition. Our time seems to fly by when we are occupied or amused. It goes on forever when we are bored or inactive.
We frequently do very little while waiting, which is one of the main reasons it feels slow. The human brain is a voracious stimulant. Our perception of time becomes inflated in its absence. Standing calmly in line for five minutes can feel twice as long as five minutes spent looking through social media.
Our perception of waiting is significantly influenced by uncertainty as well. The wait may seem longer than it is if we are unsure of how long we will be in line. According to studies, if people are aware of how long a wait would take, they are more willing to wait. We feel more worried when we are unsure of when the wait will finish, which further slows down how quickly we perceive time.
Another psychological component is fairness. When we think the system is fair, we are more patient. We become irritated and think we have been waiting forever if someone cuts in front of us or if the procedure appears haphazard. However, we are more tolerant of the wait if the line is moving efficiently and everyone is abiding by the rules.
The experience is also influenced by our sense of purpose. If the purpose seems worthwhile, people are more likely to wait. It seems considerably different to wait in line for a performance you are looking forward to than it does to wait at the DMV to renew your license. The wait seems shorter and more bearable when we are concerned about the result.
The psychological toll that waiting takes can be lessened with distractions. For this reason, a lot of companies offer publications, music, or even screens with news or ads. These elements keep us engaged and reduce the mental focus on how long we have been waiting. Even small adjustments, such as reorienting airport pathways or adding progress bars to websites, can give the impression that time is moving more swiftly.
Lastly, the experience is shaped by our expectations. You will be irritated if you anticipate a ten-minute wait and it takes fifteen. It will be a welcome surprise, though, if you are expecting thirty minutes and get served twenty. One effective strategy to lessen the discomfort of waiting is to set reasonable expectations.
In short, waiting can be a little less stressful if you are aware of these psychological indicators mentioned above. The next time you’re in line, remember that sometimes, how you wait matters more than how long you wait.