Last Updated on May 9, 2026 by Dr. Christine Sauer

38 +++ Positive Things To Do While Waiting – Instead Of Feeling Bored And Frustrated

Waiting can feel frustrating.
More often than not, you didn’t choose to wait for whatever it is- a special deal, your doctor’s appointment, in the queue for customer service on the phone.
things to do while waiting-boredom-frustration-stress
Instead of steaming in your frustration and getting more and more upset, here are a few ideas on how to use this time productively and enjoy yourself and even have fun!
Try some of the battle-tested tips from the list below next time.
And don’t forget: Your attitude / mindset is the most important asset during any wait.

Remember, there are countless things to do while waiting that can be both fun and productive.

Consider these positive things to do while waiting in your next queue or appointment.

If You Have Internet Access

Try engaging in things to do while waiting that not only fill time but also enhance your mental state.

If you find yourself in a waiting situation, here are additional things to do while waiting that can make the time enjoyable.

If you have wifi/ internet access and /or a cell phone (and ideally carry headphones – and a charger for very long waits) or you have a tablet with internet access (or Bluetooth if in wifi or your phone plan allows creating your own wifi hotspot)

By exploring things to do while waiting, you can turn downtime into a delightful experience.

Having things to do while waiting can help pass the time and reduce frustration.

1. Call a friend or family member

For instance, think about things to do while waiting that can also help you connect with others.

1. Play a game

Consider this list a source of inspiration for what things to do while waiting for your next appointment.

1. Watch a movie or show

Ultimately, there are so many things to do while waiting that can enrich your life.

1. Read a book or a good article like this one here

Embrace the opportunity to find meaningful things to do while waiting in any situation.

Listen to a podcast
Listen to an audio book
Watch your TV recordings on your phone or tablet (some providers like Bell Canada provide apps that makes it easy)

Things You Can Do With Or Without Internet Access

Positive things to do while waiting

Here are more positive things to do while waiting that can brighten your day.

1. Talk to someone else in line and ask them questions, get to know them
2. Write a creative story about something (true or fiction)
3. Write in your journal
4. Write in a journal with prompts to help you start. Click here for a free copy of “My Daily Sparkle of Gratitude – A Journal to Brighten Your Day”: https://docchristine.com/gratitude-journal
5. Try your hand at a poem
6. Sing a song
7. Doodle or paint
8. Read a good book
9. Write a blog post for your own blog or another website
10. Write a heartfelt letter by hand – to a friend or family member (even if deceased)
11. Write a letter to your future self
12. Write a letter to your past self
13. Meditate
14. Exercise – even a few squats or stretches in a lineup are good for you
15. Drink something-stay hydrated
16. do the opposite-use the washrooms (if needed, ask a fellow “line mate” yo keep your spot – most people will happily agree (and may ask you to do the same for them when you return)
17. Plan your meals for the following week
18. Talk with bystanders and exchange recipes or talk about something else of interest to both of you

Sharing recipes is one of the fun things to do while waiting that can spark conversations.

1. Make a plan to reorganize a room in your home- or remodeling the house
2. Make the wait a game: who can come up with ideas for….
3. Play a simple game with others or even just by yourself like: say as many as possible of: names/animals/cities/countries/rivers/books… starting with each letter of the alphabet
4. create a positive mental picture of your ideal future in your mind.
5. Let yourself dream…:If time and money were none of your concern:
  - Where would you live
  - Where would you work?
  - What would you do?
  - How would your home look like?
  - Where would you travel to?
6. Notice your surroundings with all 5 (or more? ) senses. Be curious:
  1. Examples:
    - What do I see around me?
    - What do I hear?
    - What do I smell?
    - What do I taste?
    - What do I sense – touch – (wind moving my hair on the head and other parts of the body, the floor under my feet, the chair under my behind…)
    - What temperature do I sense?
    - What feelings do I feel (just let them be and let them move on, like clouds in the sky feelings/emotions come and go, build and dissolve if you don’t hold on to them)
    - What else can you come up with?
7. Ask yourself: What do I want to do with my life? What does success mean to me?
8. Find things that you can appreciate. In this blog post you can find some ideas: https://docchristine.com/key-to-happiness-appreciate-little-things
9. Go down this checklist to find the # key to happiness: https://drc-lybl.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/DRC-Appreciate+the+little+thing+-checklist-the+1st+key+to+happiness.pdf
10. Think about the people in your life: family, friends, acquaintances, coworkers. Ask yourself these questions while doing so:
  - What do I appreciate about this person?
  - How can I express my gratitude/appreciation to them today? (phone call, say it directly, text, email…)
  - What are things about this person that I don’t feel good about / comfortable with?
  - How can I change my behavior towards this person to make our relationship better
  - Is this a person that I want in my life? Why or why not?
  - How can I adjust my personal boundaries so this person cannot hurt me anymore – or so I can allow this person to see more of my real self
  - If this person were to die tomorrow, what would I want to tell them / write them / let them know that I haven’t done yet?
  - Do I need to ask this person for forgiveness? Do I owe this person an apology? If so, how can I make this happen?
11. Think about your own life: If today was the last day of my life,
  - What would I want to say to a person in my life?
  - What would I regret not having done with my life?
  - What risks didn’t I take that could have made my life so much better (but were afraid to take)
  - What experiences did I want to have that I haven’t been able to do so far?
  - What were the best memories of my life?
  - What do I feel I missed out on?
  - Which people did I hurt – and who did I not at least try to apologize to and ask for forgiveness?
  - Who did hurt me and I haven’t forgiven them (but instead are still carrying the heavy burden of anger and resentment)?
12. Make a list of things that you want to do with the rest of your life (“bucket list) (since very likely today is not the last day of your life and you still have time to to the actions and things from the previous point)

Creating a bucket list of things to do while waiting can inspire you to dream big.

1. Make a plan on what you need to do/change today to act on the things and make it more likely to achieve the things from the previous point

Making actionable plans of things to do while waiting can help you achieve your goals.

Here is what the +++ in the header means:

Be creative!
I have given you a few ideas, a few directions to go with.

Use your creativity to come up with unique things to do while waiting that fit your style.

This can fill hours of waiting time with positive things to do while waiting and eliminate boredom.

You are a creative being and can come up with an infinite amount of things to do while waiting, questions to ask yourself and others, and ideas to think about.

Don’t shortchange your own abilities by telling yourself “I am bored.” Instead, find things to do while waiting that inspire you.

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