Making the Most of Waiting Seasons

By Christine Murray

We all face waiting seasons at times—periods when we feel stuck and frustrated because we're waiting for something to happen in our life, at work, or in a relationship. Until we have the thing or the answer or the information that we're waiting for, we feel held back from being able to move forward.

Waiting seasons can come in many different forms. They might be short or long. We could be waiting for something significant or something more minor and inconsequential but still necessary before we can move forward. Sometimes we're waiting on something tangible, like a new job or a set amount of financial resources. Other times, we're waiting on things that are much more intangible, like clarity about a decision or a feeling of greater purpose in our lives or work.

We might be waiting on something related to our jobs, relationships, family, financial status, a test result, a medical report, or an upcoming opportunity. Regardless of what we're waiting for, these times can feel very frustrating. It can feel like we're held back from moving forward until we have what we've been waiting for.

While waiting seasons can be challenging and often feel out of our control, there are things we can do to navigate these times in healthy, positive, and constructive ways. Here are a few strategies that I have found helpful:

1. Rest During Waiting Seasons

Waiting seasons often provide a wonderful opportunity to rest. When it arrives, the thing, answer, or information we're waiting for might require a lot of our time, energy, and attention. Embracing the waiting season as an opportunity to rest can provide us with time to build up our energy and resources. While we may be excited or anticipating what is to come, resting can help us prepare for a potentially busy period ahead.

Take advantage of the waiting season to slow down your pace. Enjoy naps, leisurely walks, and try to get extra sleep. Rest is essential even during busy seasons, but a waiting season offers a unique chance to focus on it more deeply. Think of rest during a waiting season like an animal hibernating during winter, resting deeply to be ready for the more active seasons to come.

2. Find Meaning in the Wait

If you find it helpful, try to find meaning and purpose in the waiting period. This doesn't mean overriding the frustration you might feel, but sometimes waiting seasons are opportunities for growth, preparation, and building patience. Your own sense of meaning in the waiting season might tap into your value system, beliefs, or spiritual viewpoints. Consider whether there might be some meaning that you can unearth during the waiting season. If not, that's okay—waiting doesn't always lead to existential enlightenment. But trying to find meaning in our experiences, whether good, bad, or in-between, can be beneficial.

3. Do What You Can

While it's important to rest, it can also be helpful to stay busy in meaningful ways. Consider if there are things you can do and steps you can take while waiting that will position you for what might come. Depending on your circumstances, you could develop potential plans for different possible scenarios. For example, if you're waiting for a job, think about the steps you would need to take if you get the job and what you might do if it isn't the right fit.

4. Build Skills and Resources

During waiting seasons, we can focus on building skills and resources that might help you regardless of what happens. This could involve personal growth, skill development, or gaining new healthy habits. For example, a waiting season might bring an opportunity to work on communication skills or financial literacy. These underlying tools and resources can be valuable in any situation, helping you feel more prepared and capable for whatever lies ahead.

5. Embrace Hobbies and Interests

Sometimes, we just need to pass the waiting time with as many enjoyable activities as possible. Embrace hobbies or interests that you might have less time for once the waiting period ends. Distractions like binging a favorite TV show, picking up a hobby, or spending time with friends can help you enjoy your time while also navigating the frustrations of waiting.

6. Process Your Feelings

As a mental health professional, I believe strongly in the importance of welcoming and processing all our feelings. Waiting can be very uncomfortable and frustrating. It’s essential to process these feelings rather than pretend they're not there or meet them with toxic positivity. Emotional processing tools such as writing out your feelings, talking with a counselor, or keeping a mood journal can be extremely valuable. And remember to reach out for help if you find yourself in distress, such as by contacting the 988 Lifeline.

7. Connect with Others

Finally, another important step during waiting seasons is to connect with others. This might mean enjoying your relationships and leaning on your support systems, such as friends and family. It might also involve reaching out to a counselor or other professional support. Finding people who have gone through similar waiting seasons can be particularly helpful, as they can share how they navigated similar experiences.

Conclusion

Waiting seasons are indeed challenging and frustrating. They are not easy and can bring up a lot of emotions and a sense of being unable to move forward. Take good care of yourself during these times. Focus on the aspects of the season that you can control, while also processing the feelings that come up around the parts that are out of your influence.

Remember that life will likely involve a series of waiting seasons. Try to see these waiting seasons not as wasted time but as opportunities for growth, learning, and rest. Even when they can be frustrating, waiting seasons often bring chances for us to prepare, grow, and rejuvenate.