Waiting mode

Reading: Do you lose your whole day to one appointment? ‘Waiting mode’ may be why, The Conversation, 12 June 2026.Waiting mode describes a state of mental standby before an upcoming event, where focusing on anything else becomes difficult, sometimes even impossible.Suggestions in the article include: “scheduling important events earlier in the day, which reduces the amount of time spent in anticipation”. structuring your day, scheduling in smaller or easier tasks. using timers and alarms to ”reduce the mental load of having to hold the event in mind”. But alongside these strategies, there is a quieter, more important element, which is recognising the experience for what it is. Naming waiting mode allows people to understand that this is not simply procrastination or poor time management, but a genuine way of experiencing time and anticipation.