It used to really annoy me to be put on hold while trying to conduct business by telephone. This can somewhat be avoided by using the internet instead of the telephone but that isn't always an option. It still remains an inevitable fact that at some point a customer service representative or secretary will instruct me to , “Sit and stay” until it's my turn to talk.
One day, quite unintentionally, my dog taught me that being told to sit and stay isn't so bad when a reward is involved. I noticed that when I would ask my dog to sit she would do so then look up at me with what appeared to be a smile on her face. I would reward her with a treat. When told to sit and stay she would sit there smiling at me until I rewarded her and gave her permission to move.
I discovered that being put on hold was much less stressful for me when I filled the waiting time with a rewarding activity. I rediscovered the childhood enjoyment of doodling. Actually, I think some of my doodles look as good as some artwork I've seen. In order to fill this waiting time with something pleasurable, I keep a book of short humorous or thought provoking quotes near the telephone. Browsing through the book makes the waiting time pass more quickly and often brightens my day. I also keep magazines near the phone to browse through while on hold. Having a photo book at hand provides an enjoyable activity for me while I'm waiting for my turn to talk.
If I'm experiencing a creative moment while waiting on hold, I'll write down a short poem or a long one if the person who put me on hold really wants to test my patience. Coloring is a very therapeutic activity. While I may not want to be caught coloring at work, it's a stress reducing activity I can engage in at home. I keep a journal near the telephone and often while waiting on hold I write out a gratitude list or a dream list.
Now, instead of feeling stressed when I'm put on hold, I actually look forward to that happening. I enjoy the moments of personal “free time” it gives me. I tend to feel guilty if I just sit and doing nothing. Being told to , “Sit and stay” makes me smile now because I know the wait will be a pleasurable experience.
