If you've ever waited, and perhaps are now currently waiting, to hear whether or not you've tested positive for a disease, passed medical boards, or got the job you interviewed for, you know that this period of uncertainty can be filled with tension and anxiety.
My guest today — Kate Sweeny, a professor of psychology — has studied the dynamics of this human experience and how we can best deal with it. We first discuss why the stress of waiting for uncertain news feels particularly uncomfortable and what types of people are more likely to worry while waiting. Kate then shares tactics that can help alleviate some of the worry of waiting, including leaning into being a pessimist as you approach the moment of truth and finding flow, even by doing something like playing Tetris. She also explains at what point the social support for people who are waiting for news tends to wane, so you can better support those around you who are currently stuck in this state of mind-burdening limbo.
Resources Related to the PodcastHow to Win Friends and Influence People in the 21st Century
Advice on Achieving Any Long-Haul Dream
Key Insights From the Longest Study on Happiness
Heal the Body With Extended Fasting
7 Journaling Techniques That Can Change Your Life
Get Fit, Not Fried — The Benefits of Zone 2 Cardio
Why You Don’t Change (But How You Still Can) [ENCORE]
How Testosterone Makes Men, Men [Encore]
The Unexpected Origins of Our Christmas Traditions
The Affectionate, Ambiguous, and Surprisingly Ambivalent Relationship Between Siblings
Why Homer Matters
Befriending Winter
How Polio Made a President
The Existential in Red Dead Redemption 2
The Real Rules of Power
The Brain Energy Theory of Mental Illness
Overcome the Comfort Crisis
The Future Is Analog
The Infidelity Formula
Live Life in Crescendo
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West