impatient

Impatient is an adjective describing a tendency to be unwilling to wait or tolerate delays, often accompanied by a strong desire to act quickly. Impatience can appear in everyday situations, such as waiting in line or during slow processes, or in longer-term contexts like outcomes of projects. It can range from mild restlessness to overt irritability and may be a temporary state or a more persistent trait.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin pati 'to suffer' with the prefix in- (or im-), via Old French impatient, meaning not patient. The root patience comes from the same Latin source, making impatience the negation of patient endurance.

Manifestations include faster speech, interrupted thinking, frequent checking of devices, and difficulty sustaining attention on slow tasks. Cognitively, impatient individuals may overestimate the value of immediate rewards and undervalue future ones, a pattern linked to impulsivity and, in some cases, to higher stress.

Causes and correlates: temperament and personality traits influence baseline levels of impatience. Situational factors such as time pressure, fatigue, or high workload increase impatience. Some conditions, including anxiety and attention-related difficulties, can amplify impatience.

Impacts: chronic impatience can impair decision quality, strain relationships, and reduce satisfaction with outcomes. In contrast, a controlled degree of urgency can be productive, motivating timely action in fast-paced environments.

Coping strategies include mindfulness and acceptance of some delays, reframing time expectations, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and setting clear milestones. Effective communication about needs and realistic deadlines can reduce friction. In cases where impatience causes significant distress, professional guidance may be beneficial.