Steps
1. Keep a small, thin book handy. You can keep a book with short stories which you can quickly finish while waiting for your turn, or you can keep the paperback version of a novel that you wanted to read, or currently reading.
2. If reading stories or novels is not your cup of tea, you can keep pamphlets, brochures or even the day’s newspaper with you, so that you can catch up with the things that you had to read, but could not find the time to do so, otherwise.
3. If reading is simply not something that you are game for, then you can turn on your iPod for music or videos, or switch to the music folders in your mobile phone and enjoy the music while moving along in the queue.
4. Play phone games. The modern day mobile phones offer a variety of interesting stuff to pass time. For example, the games in your mobile phone can be a good way to keep yourself engaged during the time, which you would have passed getting bored otherwise.
5. Watch TV or ignore it if you find it annoying. In many stores, they have a TV installed near the place where they want people to queue up. Ask the people in charge to turn down the volume if the TV is blaring at you.
6. Catch up on your phone calls. You can also call up your friends and relatives while waiting to go ahead. In our busy lifestyle, we hardly find the time to catch up with friends. This is the perfect time to talk to them and keep in touch.
7. Make friends. If mixing with new people is something that you like, then this is the best place to indulge in it. You can strike up a conversation with the person behind you or in front of you. You can sympathize with each other on how long the wait is – this can be a good ice breaking thing to discuss. However, try to gauge if the person is game for the conversation. If you do not find them contributing much, may be you are just intruding into their personal space.
8. Not just talking, you can also take turns with the person behind you or in front of you to keep each other’s place in the queue secured, so that you can go around again and see if you want something more or would like to exchange something. Or if the wait is very long, you can take turns to sit somewhere, while the other keeps the place. However, make sure that you do not upset anyone in this activity.
9. Bring a snack. Many a time, we forget to eat in our tightly packed schedules. You can use the time in the queue to eat something healthy and filling, so that you keep up with your daily nutrition requirements.
10. Think! Ponder! Reflect! How much time do you get for yourself in a normal day? You always kept somethings for later like your life goals, how you can improve upon something you did not like about yourself, or you have been trying to develop something so how far were you successful; thoughts have no limits and the trail of thoughts can be far more longer than the queue you are in. :)
Tips
- Try to avoid the line in the first place. Do errands at times of the day which are less busy. Lunch time may be the worst time of day to go to your local post office. If so, plan to go to the post office in the morning. Better yet, bring exact change or a credit card and you may be able to use the machines in the lobby rather than waiting in line.
- There is so much that you can do to make your waiting in a queue interesting and productive. All you need to do is think about possibilities. This way you can also make good utilization of your time, that you would have wasted otherwise, waiting.
Warnings
- Do not attempt to force a conversation with a person, who does not seem to be interested in talking to you. One may not choose to speak due to many reasons, so do not take it personally.
- Do not consume hard drinks or do not smoke; it can be very annoying for people around.
- Do not talk so loudly that you might disturb everyone else.
Things You'll Need
- A book
- Food (preferably some dry food like sandwiches/ nuts)
- A drink (Juice/ Milk/ Soft Drink)
- A friend
- A Positive Attitude
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