Patience isn’t something you just wake up with one day—it’s a skill you build, like learning to cook or ride a bike. And let’s be honest, in a world of instant gratification, waiting for anything feels impossible. But patience isn’t just about waiting; it’s about how you handle the wait. If you’re tired of feeling frustrated over every delay, here are 3 simple, healthy ways to teach yourself patience.
Tender to Houseplants
You want to practice patience? Try keeping a houseplant alive. Unlike your phone, a plant won’t give you instant feedback. It won’t send a notification to say, “Hey, thanks for watering me!” You’ll pour water, adjust the sunlight, and—at first—see nothing. But over time, if you’re consistent, new leaves appear, stems get stronger, and you realize that growth is happening even when you can’t see it.
Taking care of plants teaches you to slow down and trust the process. If you water too much out of impatience, you drown the roots. If you ignore it completely, it dries up. It’s a delicate balance—just like life. And when that first new leaf unfurls? Pure joy.
Start with an easy plant like a snake plant or pothos, and remind yourself that just like the plant, your patience will grow with care.
Cook Something That Takes Time
Cooking is one of the best ways to build patience because, well, you can’t rush it. Sure, you could microwave something in two minutes, but real flavor comes from slow cooking. Ever made bread from scratch? Kneading the dough, letting it rise, waiting for it to bake—it’s a masterclass in patience.
When you cook something that takes time, you get to experience delayed gratification in a way that’s actually enjoyable. You’re actively involved in the process, but you also have to wait. And in the end, you’re rewarded with something delicious.
Try making homemade pasta, slow-cooked stew, or even something as simple as caramelized onions. You’ll learn that good things really do take time—and they’re worth the wait.
Practice “Micro-Waiting”
Not every lesson in patience has to be a huge challenge. You can train yourself with tiny moments of waiting throughout the day. Instead of checking your phone the second it buzzes, wait 30 seconds. Let the red light be a pause instead of an annoyance. Stand in line without pulling out your phone.
These small, intentional moments of waiting help rewire your brain to handle delays without frustration. You’ll start noticing that not everything has to be immediate—and that sometimes, a little space makes things even better.
Patience isn’t about being passive—it’s about learning to handle time with grace. Whether it’s through caring for plants, slow cooking, or practicing tiny moments of waiting, you can teach yourself to be more patient in a way that actually feels rewarding.
