Smartphone dependency is real. And in a restaurant, the typical scene is grim: You arrive early, but your friend hasn't shown up yet, so you pull out your phone. Within seconds, you're knee-deep in Snapchats, texts and Insta-likes. Or worse, you're the person watching everyone slowly turn into zombies as they zone out into their screens.
But guess what? There are plenty of ways to simply wait that don't involve ignoring the world around you. There are even ways to boost your health while you wait! So go explore. Reflect. Socialize. And before you know it, it'll be dinner time.
Instead of lingering on your phone...
1. Take a walk.
Get outside for a lap around the block, or visit a shop nearby. Walking for literally two extra minutes per hour could help you live a longer life, and it improves your mood in the short term.
2. Meditate.
You can meditate over a cup of coffee, on a restaurant bench or at a barstool. Acknowledge the sights and sounds around you, accept distractions with grace, and pay attention to your breath. You’re setting yourself up for happiness and waiting for a table at the same time. BAM.
3. Check out the menu.
Not only will you get a leisurely read through every dish, but you’ll likely pick a healthier meal if you choose before you’re really hungry. “Studies show we’re a lot better at resisting salt, calories and fat in the future than we are in the present,” Harvard Business Review points out. Yum.
4. Talk to the bartender.
He or she has wise insight to offer, about both drinks and life. On a slow night, chances are your bartender would welcome the chance to strike up a conversation.
5. Organize your wallet or purse.
Throw out old receipts, un-crumple your cash, and put pens in their proper pockets. Small wins -- like making your bed in the morning or finally organizing your backpack -- tend to give the brain a dose of feel-good dopamine that contributes to overall happiness.
6. Write your to-do list … on paper.
Dump scattered thoughts from your day onto a to-do list before your dining companion arrives, so you can focus on the conversation without distraction. Not only is a paper to-do list more visually appealing, but it’s easier to categorize tasks and can feel more satisfying when you cross them off in ink.
7. Make friends.
Indeed, the old-fashioned methods of complimenting someone (“I like your dress!”) and commenting on your surroundings (“Could it be any colder in here?!”) still work like a charm, though most of us would rather look at our screens than chat up the humans around us. But if “Seinfeld” proves anything, it’s that waiting for a meal is better with good company.
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