What do you do while waiting?...

@aseretdd (13730)
Philippines
August 3, 2008 11:21pm CST
Like while waiting for your number to be called at the doctor's clinic... or waiting to arrive at your destination while travelling... or simply waiting for the bus to arrive... Do you just sit and stare at nothing?... do you text your friends or play with games on your cell phone?... or do you try to chat with the one sitting next to you?... In my case... i just sit and observe the people around... i enjoy doing that... since i always see the different personalities of the people i am waiting with... some are arrogant... some shy... others apparently intelligent... while some... obviously impatient... I don't like it when someone starts a conversation with me... since that would take me away from observing others...
11 people like this
49 responses
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
4 Aug 08
Many times I use those spare moments to take out my notebook which I always carry with me and I write out the things that I need to take care of. A "To Do" list, you might call it. I carry a small journal so that I can write down any thoughts, tasks or ideas I might have when I am away from home. If I have to wait any longer than that then I usually just sit and watch the people around me.
3 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
I am not really a "to do list" maker... i don't even write a shopping list... so i always end up forgetting a thing or two... i think i am just to lazy to make one... but it is a great way to pass the time while waiting... thanks for the response...
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
29 Sep 08
You are welcome... and you certainly earn it...
• United States
29 Sep 08
Thank you for the best response. Don't know that I earned it, but thank you.
1 person likes this
@aruseva (29)
• United States
4 Aug 08
When I'm waiting, I prefer to read books. If I don't have a book with me, I play bubble breaker. If I do not have bubble breaker, I observe people. I don't particularly enjoy people randomly starting a conversation with me, especially if at a doctor's office. Also, if I am waiting for something and the thing I am waiting for is making me nervous, I prefer to do nothing. Just stare.
3 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
I also do not like it when people start talking to me... so i try to show them that i am not interested in chatting... but some are really persistent... thanks for the response... welcome to mylot and i hope you enjoy every minute of your stay here...
@cjmobxnc (137)
• United States
5 Aug 08
Can I ask what is bubble breaker? It sounds interesting.
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
4 Aug 08
i just keep on thinking about so many things. i have noticed i just can't stop thinking. while waiting for doctor, there is some tension obviously every time.in other case while waiting for bus, may be i get irritated.but i sit or stand, i think a lot.
3 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
Well, it seems like you are quite stressed... and you need to relax a little bit... i am aware of your father's medical condition... and the other problems you are facing in your life... but it will also help for you to relax a bit and enjoy life... thanks for the response...
1 person likes this
• India
4 Aug 08
Sometimes while waiting at Doctor's clinic I got stressed that what will happen if i got diagnosed with some ailment. I am very afraid of falling sick of whatever reason. Whenever I visit the doctor I try to go through some medical papers lying there and want to update myself regarding do's and don'ts of life and what precautions i should take e.g. how to reduce weight etc. While waiting at a bus stop or railway station , I usually passed time wandering here and there. But presently I am trying to change my attitude. I usually play a game of Sudoku ( a mental game ) and the more complex the problem is , more time it takes to solve it. I try to have 2 or 3 good books with me and go through it. Not only it improves my knowledge but also keeps me relaxed.
2 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
6 Aug 08
Waiting in a doctor's clinic can be quite stressful... i have seen a lot of people who look very worried... but i have never been in such a situation... and i hope i never will... i think it is a good thing to bring something that will take your mind away from worrying... thanks for the response... welcome to mylot and i hope you enjoy your stay here...
@k4karthik (439)
• India
4 Aug 08
I am calling my close relatives and friends. Some times even i will listen to my favorite songs which were stored in my cell. I will buy books and read that books when i am waiting for bus. That will entertain me and that is my best way of time pass.
3 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
I also read a book sometimes... when i don't forget to bring one... or when i want to finish a certain novel... but nowadays... since i am very busy with work, taking care of my baby, and house chores... i haven't bought a new book... so i just enjoy looking at people... thanks for the response... welcome to mylot and i hope you enjoy your stay here...
2 people like this
@skyTears (20)
• Indonesia
4 Aug 08
i used to bring my book in my bag when i go everywhere. and while im waiting, i read the book or catting on my mobile phone. coz waiting is boring.. and i dnt like passing my time by nothing to do. life is short that's why I have to spend my time to get some fun and knowledge by reading books, chatting, noticing atmosphere around me to get some inspiration about something happen in life around me.
3 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
8 Aug 08
I used to bring a Harry Potter book with me... no matter how thick it is... but the wait is always pleasant while i am reading Harry Potter... but now that the series already ended... i do my people watching... also quite pleasant... as long as there are interesting people around... thanks for the response... welcome to mylot and i hope you enjoy your stay here...
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
If I am alone, I'll read a book (If I carried one) or play a game in my cell phone. But If I am with my wife, we'll talk about how we spent our college years even if we have talked about it a million times.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
8 Aug 08
Talking to your wife about your college days is a good way to pass the time... it seems that the experiences you had are the one that made you more close to each other... because you don't get tired of taking about it... thanks for the response...
• Philippines
8 Aug 08
We don't get tired of talking about it and she never got tired as well of hitting me whenever we're talking about it. I keep on insisting that she first fall in love with me, and that she just seduced me hahaha. She hates me whenever I pick those words during our conversations...
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
8 Aug 08
That is so sweet... i can picture the two of you right now...
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
5 Aug 08
Whenever I think to take one, I read a book. If there are magazines available I will read those.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
9 Aug 08
A lot of people really prefer to take a book and read it while reading... and i don't blame them... time flies fast while someone is busy reading and interesting book of article in the magazine... thanks for the response...
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
9 Aug 08
We live on a ranch, and many times it is necessary for me to transport the guys from place to places to get the machinery where they need it. There is usually quite a bit of waiting around while they get organized, so I try to keep a book in the car for those times as well.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Aug 08
aseretdd hi I am a people watcher from way back so I just observe those around me and wonder what each person is thinking. some are also just watching , some look upset, others look bored, some are tappingtheir toes, 'and some are looking at their watches every few minutes. I dont really mind if someone does talk to me as I feel we areall in the same boat sitting in the endocrinologists waiting room as we are all diabetics.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
I remember sitting with 10 other pregnant women at the gynecologist's clinic... we looked really odd with out differently sized bellies... but is a a good sight to see... and that was a very nice people watching experience... thanks for the response...
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I never go to an appointment or anywhere that I might have to wait without having a book or my crochet bag with me. I can't stand to sit somewhere with nothing to do. I always have a project with me when I'm on the road, too. If someone else is driving, I'll have my crochet in my lap. Obviously I don't crochet while I'm driving, but I've been known to crochet while stuck in traffic!
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
8 Aug 08
Wow... that is a unique way to be stuck in a traffic jam... i have always wanted to crochet... but i have sweaty hands (hyperhydrosis)... and i live in a tropical country... where it is always hot... so i gave it up... i hope you can upload an image of your crochet and share it with the whole mylot community... thanks for the response...
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
8 Aug 08
Oh i see... i will invite you as a friend... and i will check it out later... or after i finish commenting to the responses to my discussions...
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Aug 08
I've already uploaded several of my projects. If you're really interested, you could probably dig around on my profile to see what discussions I've posted to, but it's been a while.
1 person likes this
@parthag (145)
• India
4 Aug 08
While I am waiting in the doctor's clinic I normally go through books or periodicals present there. But while I am waiting for train or the plane I watch the body language of other people and also the books they read.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
6 Aug 08
I also sometime go through the magazine and periodicals... but i get turned off when they are like a year old... so i just resume to my people watching... which i greatly enjoy... thanks for the response... welcome to mylot and i hope you enjoy every minute of your stay here...
@cjmobxnc (137)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I either take a book with me, if I am reading one that I just can't put down, or if it is time for me to get started on Christmas presents, I take whatever craft I am working on at the time. I mainly do crocheting, so I take little snowflakes with me to work on.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
9 Aug 08
Wow, you are the second person to respond to this discussion that does crochet while waiting... one even does it while stuck in a traffic jam... thanks for the response... welcome to mylot and i hope you enjoy your stay here...
@cjmobxnc (137)
• United States
9 Aug 08
I have tried to do it while in the car, but it made me carsick. No more of that feeling.
1 person likes this
@noel0000 (145)
• India
9 Oct 08
When I have to wait, I usually read newspaper and spent time .
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
9 Oct 08
I sometimes do that if there is a newspaper that is not too old available in the office... but if there is none... then i just do my people watching habit... and that is something that i really enjoy very much... Thanks for the response...
@bsa861 (339)
• India
8 Oct 08
Clinic is a worst place to wait, coz no one seem to talk and even if they do its really boring !! I love wait for my bus to arrive lol, I can watch hot gals and even talk to them lol !! I enjoy music when I am waiting may be with a novel too :)
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
9 Oct 08
I guess the reason why people in the clinic do not talk is because of the stress of finding out why they are ill or not feeling well... but i agree... it is nice to wait for the bus... because there are so many kinds of people to see... Thanks for the response...
• Singapore
30 Sep 08
I will listen to the radio and send text message to friends and other stuffs just to make me busy and rid of the boredom while waiting for the number to be called for example.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
1 Oct 08
My cell phone doesn't have a radio... so too bad for me... but i also send text messages... but only when i need too... i would rather call than send text... and really prefer to just watch the people around me... very interesting... Thanks for the response...
• United States
6 Aug 08
I talk to people I also will count in my head. If I am in line I will continually count the people who are ahead of me. I do not know why but I count them over and over and over. At least the line goes down instead of up. I will also do some people watching. I do not talk on the cell or play games on the cell I do not think about it.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
11 Aug 08
I also count the people ahead of me when i am standing in line... especially when it is in a government office... the line tend to be very very long... so counting will take up much of my time... and that keeps me from being very very irritated... thanks for the response...
@whittby (3072)
• United States
5 Aug 08
I like observing too. Sometimes I can do that, but in some places like a waiting rfoom it feels rude for me to do that. People are interesting are they not? I wonder what makes folks do what they do, what makes them tick... So I almost always have a book with me and I read that. It makes the time go so much faster.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
11 Aug 08
I don't stare very long at one person... because like you said... some may find that rude... but when i have a book with me... i start reading... but i would always find myself looking at the people around me... well that is a habit of mine that is very hard to break... thanks for the response...
@youless (112586)
• Guangzhou, China
5 Aug 08
I like to play with my mobile phone when I am waiting. It is the best way to kill the time. Usually I will watch a movie by my mobile phone and the time flies so quickly. I love China
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
11 Aug 08
Watching a movie throught he cell phone is a great thing... too bad mine doesn't have that feature... but it is okay... watching people is already like watching a short documentary film... very interesting and realistic at the same time... thanks for the response...
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
12 Aug 08
In our present situation we do not have to do much waiting, but that is a good time to sketch. I usually have something to draw on and with.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
12 Aug 08
Well, that sketching is a good way to spend the waiting time... and you can even sketch the people around you... or a very interesting object... i would do that if i was good at that... thanks for the response...
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
30 Sep 08
Observing is a great pastime! I enjoy that myself. Also like reading, talking, praying, dreaming, planning, sleeping.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
1 Oct 08
I can only do this people watching while i am waiting in an office or clinic... since those are the places where we usually wait... but i also do that in malls and restaurants sometimes... Thanks for the response...