Tag: waiting

Science Says Waiting Is Good For Your Brain

If waiting in line gives you flashbacks to the DMV or makes your blood pressure spike, here’s some science-y good news: being forced to wait might actually be great for your brain.

A new study suggests that learning to tolerate delays can boost self-control, reduce impulsive decision-making, and even make you happier—if you play your cards right.

Sure, no one likes waiting. If you surveyed 100 people, maybe two would say they enjoy it—and one of them might be lying. But researchers say reframing how we experience those inevitable pauses in life can make a surprising difference.

Here’s how waiting works in your favor:

  1. It sharpens your self-control. Waiting is basically a workout for your patience muscles. The more you practice staying calm during delays, the better you get at regulating your emotions and avoiding snap judgments. Think of it like mental resistance training—minus the gym membership.
  2. It helps you avoid impulsive choices. Ever fired off an email and instantly regretted it? Or bought something online that you didn’t need but really wanted for 30 seconds? Pausing before you act—whether it’s a purchase or a reply—gives your brain a chance to cool off. Waiting, in this case, is like putting your decision-making on ice until the emotional heat dies down.
  3. It can actually be fun (really). Anticipation is a powerful drug. Sometimes, the countdown to a vacation or event is more exciting than the thing itself. Psychologists call this “savoring,” and it’s a big part of why waiting can be enjoyable. Make a game out of it, build suspense, or just let yourself enjoy the buildup.

Instead of seeing waiting as dead time or a personal affront, try thinking of it as a brain break. Take a breath, zone out, or reflect. It’s a rare excuse to slow down without guilt—and your brain might just thank you for it.

So the next time you’re stuck behind someone writing a check in the grocery line (who still does that?!), try to channel your inner zen. Or at least remember: science says you’re doing something good for your mental health.

And hey, maybe that’s worth the wait.

Do You Really Need to Wait 30 Minutes After Eating Before Swimming?

For generations, parents have terrified kids with one of the most infamous childhood warnings: “Wait 30 minutes after you eat before swimming—or you’ll drown.” But it turns out, that age-old warning is nothing more than a soggy myth.

Yep, there’s no scientific reason to sit poolside in hunger-fueled purgatory. According to modern experts (and common sense), eating before swimming doesn’t actually increase your risk of drowning at all.

So Where Did This Myth Come From?

Blame the Boy Scouts. The first known mention popped up in the 1908 manual Scouting for Boys, written by scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell. He warned that swimming right after a meal could “double you up” with cramps and cause drowning—a theory that stuck like pool water in your ears.

Fast forward to today . . . Where one physician, named Dr. Matthew Badgett, who was also a competitive swimmer, recalled how he had to eat before early-morning swim practice or else he’d be “dragging.”

Myth Debunked

To drive it home, the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council debunked the myth back in 2011. After reviewing the evidence, they concluded that eating before swimming “is not a contributing risk for drowning” and should be dismissed as pure fiction.

They confirmed that again last year, too.

Ironically, the cramp warning flies in the face of everything parents encourage when it comes to other sports. Ever been told to eat before soccer practice or a big game to avoid fatigue and—yep—cramps? Exactly.

So go ahead and enjoy that hot dog before cannonballing into the deep end. Just maybe don’t eat nine hot dogs.

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