If you want to be more patient with people as you get older, say goodbye to these 7 habits

I always admired those people who, as they age, seem to just have an endless well of patience.

You know the type, right? They’re the ones who can stay calm and collected no matter the situation, even when everyone else is losing their cool.

Believe me when I say, I wanted in on that.

As we get older, this kind of patience becomes more crucial. Not just for our sanity, but for maintaining healthier relationships and overall well-being.

But let’s face it, achieving this level of tranquility is no walk in the park.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

If you’re struggling with patience, it might not be a lack of effort on your part.

It could be certain habits that are standing in your way without you even realizing it.

So if you’re asking yourself “How can I be more patient as I age?”, it might be time to reconsider some of your ingrained habits.

This is where I invite you to join me as we explore seven habits that might be preventing us from developing that zen-like patience we all admire.

Saying goodbye to these could be your ticket to a more patient and fulfilling life.

Get ready; it’s time for a change.

1) Rushing through life

Ever caught yourself constantly checking the time? Or maybe you’re always in a hurry, even when there’s no real rush.

If this sounds like you, then you’re not alone. This is a common habit that many of us unknowingly adopt.

The problem with always rushing is it leaves little room for patience.

After all, patience requires slowing down, taking the time to listen and observe.

Here’s a thought.

What if instead of racing against the clock, we tried to move with it?

Imagine how much more patient we could be if we weren’t always trying to beat time.

So next time you find yourself in a hurry, take a moment. Breathe.

Not everything needs to be done at lightning speed.

Slowing down won’t make you any less efficient. In fact, it might just make you more patient.

2) Jumping to conclusions

Here’s a personal confession: I used to be a serial conclusion jumper.

You know, the sort who always predicts the worst possible outcomes?

Let me share a little story.

A friend once didn’t respond to my text for a couple of days, and I immediately thought, “That’s it. They’re upset with me.”

Turned out, they were just on a camping trip with no signal. Talk about jumping to conclusions, right?

What I learned from this and countless similar instances is that jumping to conclusions breeds impatience.

It robs us of the ability to wait and see how things unfold.

If you’re anything like how I used to be, take this as your sign to pause before leaping to conclusions.

Give people the benefit of doubt.

Remember that situations aren’t always as they seem at first glance, and patience often lies in waiting for the full picture to emerge.

3) Ignoring self-care

Now, this might seem like it’s coming out of left field, but hear me out.

I’ve always been a doer, a go-getter.

The idea of sitting still, doing nothing? It used to make me uncomfortable.

So I kept going, kept pushing, kept ignoring that little voice in the back of my head that whispered, “Slow down.”

And then, it happened.

Burnout.

It hit me like a freight train. Suddenly, I was snappy, irritable, and constantly on edge.

Patience? It was nowhere in sight.

That’s when it hit me. Patience isn’t just about dealing with others; it starts with being patient with ourselves.

Taking time for self-care isn’t indulgent; it’s essential.

It’s about giving ourselves the space to relax, recharge and renew.

Because when we’re run down, patience is the first thing to go.

4) Clinging to control

You know those moments when you just wish you could control everything?

The weather, the traffic, people’s actions… It’s a tempting thought, isn’t it?

I used to be one of those people who craved control.

I wanted to manage everything around me, thinking it would make life easier, more predictable.

But here’s the kicker.

The more I tried to control everything, the less patient I became.

Why? Because let’s face it, life is unpredictable. Things don’t always go according to plan.

People don’t always behave the way we want them to.

The moment I accepted this reality was the moment I started becoming more patient.

5) Neglecting mindfulness

Ever caught yourself so wrapped up in your thoughts that you hardly notice the world around you?

Yeah, me too. It’s like we’re living in our heads instead of the here and now.

Here’s something you might not expect.

According to research, practicing mindfulness meditation can actually increase patience.

Mindfulness is all about being present, fully engaged with what we’re doing at the moment.

It’s about paying attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them.

When we’re mindful, we’re not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. We’re living in the now.

And being in the now gives us the space to react more calmly, more patiently.

So if you’ve been neglecting mindfulness, maybe it’s time to give it a shot.

Try to take a few minutes each day just to be present.

Notice your surroundings, your feelings, your thoughts.

You might be surprised at how much more patient you become.

6) Failing to walk in someone else’s shoes

We all have our own unique journeys, don’t we?

I remember a time when I found myself growing impatient with a friend who was always late.

It drove me up the wall.

Then one day, I discovered she had been silently battling chronic illness which often made her routine tasks longer than usual.

That changed everything.

Suddenly, her lateness wasn’t something that vexed me. Instead, it became a reminder of her struggle, her strength.

My impatience melted away, replaced by empathy.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson about patience.

It reminded me that everyone is fighting their own battles, some visible, some not.

We never truly know what someone is going through unless we walk a mile in their shoes.

The next time you find yourself growing impatient with someone, take a pause.

Try to see things from their perspective.

You might find that empathy can be a powerful antidote to impatience.

7) Forgetting the power of practice

Here it is, the most crucial thing to remember: patience is like a muscle.

The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.

It’s not something that just magically appears overnight.

It requires consistent effort and practice.

So every time you find yourself in a situation that tests your patience, see it as an opportunity to flex this muscle.

With each challenge, remind yourself, “This is my chance to become more patient.”

Patience isn’t about never feeling irritated or frustrated. It’s about how we handle those feelings.

And the more we practice, the better we get at handling them.

Keep practicing. Keep pushing.

And before you know it, you’ll be that person – the one with an endless well of patience.

The takeaway

So, you’ve identified with some of these habits?

That’s okay. The first step towards change is recognition.

Remember, patience is not about perfection.

It’s about progress. It’s about making conscious efforts to grow and improve, one day at a time.

Start by observing your triggers.

Notice when impatience creeps in, and which of these habits might be fueling it.

Then, practice responding differently.

It’s not going to be easy, and that’s alright. Change rarely is.

But here’s something to hold onto: with every small step towards patience, you’re not just becoming a better person.

You’re cultivating healthier relationships and a more peaceful life.