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Key points
- We waste huge chunks of our lives waiting, literally years.
- We can transform our waiting into productive and career enhancing experiences.
- You can learn a new language or get a tuition-free degree.
We waste huge chunks of our lives waiting. However, with today's technology coupled with the right mindset, wasted waiting hours can become your "Waiting School," a time to learn and grow professionally.
How much time do we waste? We all spend time waiting. We wait for appointments, family and friends, events, our turn, to get to work (commuting time), our kids to finish playing, for customer service, and it goes on. But you might be surprised how much of our lives we waste waiting. A study of 2,000 Brits showed that the average adult will spend the equivalent of almost one year of their lives, just waiting in a queue!
A different study estimated that we will spend 3.7 months waiting for family and friends, and an unbelievable 3.7 years commuting.
Design Your Own 'Waiting School': Here are six ways to transform your waits into a very productive and bettering experience, with the added value of making your waiting time pass more quickly.
- Learn a New Language
Use apps like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone to acquire a new language while you wait. For advanced language learners, podcasts or audiobooks in your target language can also enhance listening skills. I have used my own waiting time this past year to advance from a few words to: having simple conversations about daily topics in French, and plan to reach the sought-after level of "hold a conversation in Paris without having the local Parisians cringe" within two more years! - Complete a Course
Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning offer courses on many topics. Download lessons in advance and listen to them while waiting. - Pursue Accreditation or Certification
Many academic accreditations and professional certifications can be obtained with provided audio materials or lecture recordings. For instance, Class-Central provides diverse courses with free certification from beginners to advanced levels. Open Universities provide online courses, some include free courses on how to succeed and advance at work. -
Get a Tuition-Free B.A.
At the University of the People, a Bachelor’s degree typically requires the completion of 120 semester credit hours, encompassing approximately 40 courses. In a three-credit course, students can expect to dedicate about 15 hours per week to coursework. This weekly commitment includes five hours of active academic engagement and up to 10 hours of independent study; the cumulative study time for a full, free B.A. can be estimated at around 5,000 hours.
- Engage in Career-Enhancing Podcasts
Explore podcasts related to your field or career development. They can inspire new ideas, provide industry insights, or teach valuable skills. Podcasts are a fast-growing industry providing ever-more options for learning and acquiring knowledge. -
Short Waits? Keep Your Mind Sharp
Replace Candy Crush with Wordle, Connections, Sudoku, or any other available brain teaser.
Summary: By reframing waiting as an opportunity to acquire knowledge, credentials, and skills, you can turn wasted hours into a productive and meaningful Waiting School, boosting your professional growth and career trajectory. It also makes long tedious waits pass much more quickly.
