Turns out this really annoying activity is good for your brain 4 ways to reap the benefits

Imagine you’re at a coffee shop, desperate for your morning caffeine fix.But the line? It’s crawling at a snail’s pace.With every agonizing second that drags by, your patience wears thinner and the urge to storm behind the counter and pour your own cup grows stronger.But experts say that aggravating wait might actually be doing you a favor — even if it feels unbearable.“Research shows that it can be beneficial as it improves self-control,” according to Dr.

Ayse Burcin Baskurt, a senior lecturer in applied positive psychology at the University of East London.“Self-control has broad importance — whether that’s in school or the workplace — because of its implications for learning, decision-making, performance, social relationships and wellbeing,” she explains in a recent article published in The Conversation.Without self-control, our future ambitions often get steamrolled by short-term urges.Giving in can feel satisfying in the moment, whether it’s diving headfirst into a tub of ice cream during a diet or firing off a snarky retort in the heat of an argument.But when those impulsive decisions go unchecked, they can take a toll on your health, strain your relationships and make everyday life more difficult to manage.Waiting, Baskurt explains, creates space by giving you a crucial pause to regulate emotions, resist temptations and stay focused on your long-term goals.And the benefits quickly add up.

Research shows that people who have better self-control tend to have healthier relationships, stronger finances and greater career success.They’re also less likely to face challenges like overeating, addiction, procrastination or impulsive behavior.While waiting can feel frustrating in the moment, it may actually make the eventual reward even sweeter.One study found that simply anticipating a reward activates the brain’s pleasure and motivation centers, suggesting that the buildup itself is enjoyable.Beyond that, experts say that regularly practi...