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

But experts say that aggravating wait might actually be doing you a favor — even if it feels unbearable. 3 Waiting can help improve your self-control, experts say. Waiting, Baskurt explains, creates space by giving you a crucial pause to regulate emotions, resist temptations and stay focused on your long-term goals. 3 Practicing mindfulness and gratitude can help make waiting feel less aggrevating. Beyond that, experts say that regularly practicing self-control helps build a cognitive reserve, which can protect the brain later in life.