5 Ways to Use Your Time Better While Waiting

While waiting, we can get into a rut of not doing much. Many of us fall into a bit of depression waiting for the desires of our life to be realized. We get tired of praying for the same things day after day. We feel direction-less. We don’t necessarily know what to do with our time and energy.

I, for example, am tempted to scroll my phone and shop needlessly during waiting periods. But that’s not fruitful activity. It’s wasteful of time and money. If you do that week after week, month after month, year after year, it adds up to a lot of your life wasted.

This topic reminds me of the virgins preparing their lamps to meet the Bridegroom. As women, we are called to do the same. Ask yourself: Are you preparing your lamp to meet Jesus someday while you are waiting? If not, let me suggest four ways to use your time better while waiting.

1. Study the Gospels. Why not use your time to understand the Gospels more deeply? We’re all called to be disciples and to understand Jesus’ message so we can witness to His words and actions in our own lives. You can either read and meditate on the Gospels yourself or find a study guide to help you.

2. Structure Your Prayer. You may not want to pray, but that’s all the more reason to pray. Structure and consistency can help you pray when you don’t necessarily want to. For example, the Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, the Examen, Litanies, and/or Novenas are structured prayers. Commit to one of these each day. Make it a habit.

3. Give Back. Do something for others. Commit to some form of volunteer work or helpfulness outside of your home that is of interest to you and that helps someone in need. Look close to home for opportunities. It could even be helping a family member if you don’t want to go too out of your comfort zone. Who knows, you may find a hidden passion.

4. Engage in Spiritual Reading. All the great spiritual teachers suggest spiritual reading daily. Why? Filling our minds with spiritual things makes it more likely that we do more spiritual things. Spiritual reading challenges us to grow as disciples. It could even be just 15 minutes a day.

5. Find Fellowship. Find a group of women with whom you can find regular fellowship. Maybe you have a faith book discussion or start a prayer group. Maybe it’s more of a mutual support group where you find support for a certain common trial like dating, infertility, or career unfulfillment. Or perhaps it's a professional group that fosters leadership and community involvement. All of these can help you meet women in similar spots in life to connect with.

The bottom line is: Prepare your lamps each day! Even during this waiting time where you don't know where your life is headed. I hope these ideas are helpful for you as you navigate this in between time of your life.