Are you always running around like a chicken with its head cut off and losing your cool when things don’t go your way? Are you always snapping at people because they’re wasting your time and you don’t have any time to spare? Hold up! While it’s normal to feel stressed when you’re chasing the clock, there are many negative consequences of allowing time-related stress to bring you down. If you relate to the following, it’s time to break the habit and slow down.
1. You’re Always In A Rush.
You want to save time, so you’re always in a hurry, rushing from one task to the next. You miss out on the world around you and cause yourself more stress you don’t need. Take your time and recognize that things don’t need to be immediate to be successful or meaningful.
2. You Don’t Think Things Through.
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You’re terrified of missing out, so you tend to be impulsive. Instead of taking a minute to think about something before making a decision, you jump in blindly, which can cause you to make mistakes and regret your choices. Sure, it pays to take risks, but you have to consider all the possible outcomes.
3. You Don’t Give People A Chance To Speak.
You tend to interrupt people if they take too long to finish what they’re saying or if they take what feels like ages to get to the point of their story because you just want them to finish so you can say what’s on your mind. No wonder people feel angry around you — they can’t get a word in!
4. You Blow Up At Short Delays.
Hey, everyone feels stressed when their schedule is thrown off, whether because of traffic on the roads or a canceled flight or train. However, if you allow the stress to get to you to the point where you’re blowing up at innocent bystanders or engaging in road rage, that’s unhealthy — and it can be dangerous.
5. You Can’t Handle Uncertainty.
Uncertainty is your kryptonite. You want the answers to everything all the time. Life doesn’t work that way, unfortunately, so you’re just putting more stress on your shoulders. You can’t control everything! Try to embrace the excitement of not knowing and find inner peace when there are some question marks left over.
6. You Jump From One Task To Another.
Multitasking can make you more productive, but it can also cause you to make mistakes, which will take you even more time to fix. See where this is going? Scattered attention is associated with increased stress and fatigue, so slow down and do tasks properly. You’ll thank yourself later.
7. You’re Always Early.
It’s great to be on time for meetings and social events, but if you’re always there 15 minutes ahead of time, you might think you’re being punctual and stress-free when you’re actually wasting more of your time waiting around for other people. It’s not actually going to put you any further ahead.
8. You Have Unrealistic Ideas Of Time.
On the other hand, maybe you’re always chasing the clock, cramming tons of activities and tasks into your schedule. This causes you to take on too much, so you’re essentially late for all your commitments. You don’t like having blanks on your calendar, but overbooking leaves you feeling more stressed than accomplished.
9. You Bark At Other People.
You’re impatient with other people when they’re not moving at your preferred pace, like when they’re doing a chore or helping you with something. Not only does this stress you and them out, but it can lead to arguments. Stop being such a drain! Let people be there for you in their own way and count to 100 instead of jumping in.
10. You Don’t Do Long Lines.
No one wants to be stuck in a long line at the bank or supermarket. Your tendency is to leave and go do something else. While that’s great, you’re going to have to go back at another time, so your impatience is wasting your time.
11. You Can’t Be Uncomfortable For Five Minutes.
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The problem with being so impatient with everything in your life is that you train yourself to not deal with discomfort. You run at the first whiff of it! Try to practice mindfulness or breathing exercises so you can stay in a stressful moment to build resilience and patience. It’s through tough times that we actually grow.
12. You Don’t Celebrate Small Victories.
If you’re impatient when it comes to achieving success, you might overlook small achievements in pursuit of your bigger goals. However, you need to slow down and celebrate your small victories! They feel good and boost your motivation as well as your sense of self-worth.
13. You Don’t Practice Self-Care.
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If you’re rushing so much through your day that you don’t have much time for yourself, you could neglect basic self-care. This could cause you to miss out on stress-reduction activities, making you feel anxious and drained. As a result, you’ll just end up being more irritable and impatient. It’s a vicious cycle!
14. You Don’t Reflect On Your Behavior.
Rushing around also causes you to focus too much on what you’re doing and where you’re headed instead of taking a breather to self-reflect. You need to take stock of your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors so you can make adjustments if necessary, like if you’re ignoring your needs or taking on too much.
15. You’re Missing The Moment.
You can’t fully embrace the beautiful sunrise when you wake up or appreciate the gorgeous wildflowers on the side of the road on your way to work if you’re always focused on your to-do list and all the chores you have to get through. Try to take a few minutes to engage in the present moment so you don’t let life pass you by in a blur.
16. You’re Feeling Unprepared.
If you’re impatient with yourself, pushing yourself hard to meet deadlines, you might always feel like you’re unprepared for your busy schedule that’s taking over. Your life’s chaotic and your mind is scattered, so you can’t always be sure that you’re handing in work that’s polished. It’s stressful and can lead to tons of self-doubt.
17. You Dismiss Creativity
You can’t be creative if you’re being impatient. Sometimes it’s during quieter, slower moments that the best ideas come to you. If you’re always rushing through projects, you can’t give your creative juices a chance to flow and make your work better.
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