Psychiatrist Dirk De Wachter advocates for waiting as a way of life

Psychiatrist Dirk De Wachter is urging people to embrace waiting, not as a passive inconvenience, but as an active and enriching way of life. In his new book, 'Wachten, een levenshouding' (Waiting, a Way of Life), De Wachter argues that by waiting without expectation, individuals can foster deeper connections and improve their mental well-being.

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Don't give in to every temptation. You don't have to go on a city trip every weekend. Stay home for a few days. Have a coffee, go for a walk, or daydream a little.

De Wachter suggests that modern life's constant rush and incessant chatter push aside the essential aspects of existence. He advocates for a conscious choice of thoughtfulness, taking time to pause rather than being driven by the day-to-day demands. "By not always chattering, babbling, and gossiping, more connecting discourse can arise," he explained in an interview on Radio 1.

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Waiting without expectation means you are open to what comes your way, without immediately attaching a result or purpose to it.

From his practice, De Wachter observes widespread overstimulation and burnout. While therapy and medication can help, he believes prevention is key. His advice is simple: resist every temptation, skip the weekend city trips, and instead, spend a few days at home. Enjoy a coffee, take a walk, or simply daydream. This deliberate slowing down, he posits, can be a powerful antidote to the pressures of contemporary life.

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By not always chattering, babbling, and gossiping, more connecting discourse can arise. By remaining silent and not always filling everything in, the essential aspects of life can emerge. Depth is displaced by noise.

While acknowledging that enjoying the "in-between times" is a talent, De Wachter insists his message isn't elitist. He clarifies that his book doesn't stem from a "guru-like position" looking down on those who find waiting frustrating, like being stuck in traffic. Instead, he draws from his own irritations with waiting, seeking to transform "lost time" into "gained time" through reflection. He shared an example of using a three-hour train delay due to track interference not as lost time, but as an opportunity to read, something he often lacks time for in his busy schedule.

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I see people who are overstimulated, can no longer cope, and have burnout. I can treat them with therapy and the necessary medication, but we can also treat such issues preventively by slowing down more.