We live in an age when the answers to most questions we might have about any given subject are only seconds away. The internet is such a useful, and helpful tool, but one of the things we’ve grown accustomed to because of the easy access to information is quick answers. 

But much of our lives are spent in seasons of uncertain, often frustrating, sometimes seemingly interminable, waiting! 

Whether you're waiting for exam results or a job offer, whether you're not sure if a dream will pan out, or even whether you're waiting for the fog to clear on what to do next, this in-between time can feel like someone pressed pause on life. But waiting doesn’t have to be a waste of time! In fact, it can be deeply shaping—if you let it.

Here are three tips to help you navigate a season of waiting with intention and growth:

1. Limit the Refresh Button

Whether it’s checking your inbox, refreshing a tracking page, or scrolling for updates, constant monitoring can feed anxiety. Set boundaries—like checking once or twice a day—and then redirect your focus. Trust that what you’re waiting for will come when it’s time, and give your attention to things that restore rather than drain you.

2. Reflect, Don’t Ruminate It’s easy to spiral into “what-ifs,” but constant overthinking drains energy. Instead, journal your thoughts, talk them through with a friend, or set aside specific times to process. Waiting can be a powerful time to clarify your values and hopes—without letting fear take the lead.

3. Stay Open to the Present While you're waiting for what's next, don't miss what's now. Spend time with people who energize you. Say yes to small opportunities. You may not control the outcome you’re waiting on, but you can shape the kind of person you’re becoming in the meantime.

Waiting doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Growth often happens underground, quietly and invisibly, like roots before a tree grows tall. This in-between space can shape you into someone stronger, more self-aware, and more ready for what’s next.

So, rather than rushing through the waiting, lean into it. Let it form you. The best things often grow in silence.

‘Prompt me… but not yet… the meaning is in the waiting.’ Welsh Poet, R.S. Thomas

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