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.