How to cope with "the waiting"

I figured a lot of people may be in this boat with everything going on right now. I moved into my house right before the Corona-virus got really serious here in the US, so I'm really struggling to get things moving to start my first tank due to longer shipping times/stores being closed/etc. I'm NOT a patient person naturally and the waiting is just killing me. Luckily it's giving me a lot of time to plan and do research. I also just received my aquarium stand in the mail and it was missing a vital piece so I have to contact the company and have them send the piece (this is probably going to add on another 3+ weeks to my wait). I have already bought all of my supplies so I just have to wait for this piece to get here so I can get started.

My question is: what do you do to make it easier to get through the waiting period, whether it's waiting for your tank to cycle, waiting for that special fish that you want to get restocked at your lfs, waiting for something you need for one of your tanks to ship to you, etc?

 

i started my first tank right before quarantine really kicked in here and the fact that i started it planted has been the saving grace. i really wasn’t expecting to care about aquatic plants — i only started with a planted tank because my understanding was fish enjoy it and it helps with water parameters — but the plants are so much more interesting and enjoyable than i expected them to be. i think it’s the fact that there’s noticeable change every single day, and occasional trimming gives me something to do, so it makes it feel like time is passing in a meaningful way instead of everything in the tank just seeming stagnant and empty as it cycles. (after nearly two months of cycling i’m finally adding shrimp and a nerite tomorrow!)

if you weren’t already planning on having plants in this tank i would really consider it! i’m not sure how stuff is in the US right now, but where i am a lot of local fish stores are still doing delivery within the city so if i wanted to order live plants i’d be able to get them pretty quickly. it might be worth looking into if you have the same options near you!

also, like you, i just fill up all my time with extra research. i’m already daydreaming 2-3 tanks ahead in the future by just looking up everything about the planned livestock and plants over and over, lol.

 

if you weren’t already planning on having plants in this tank i would really consider it! i’m not sure how stuff is in the US right now, but where i am a lot of local fish stores are still doing delivery within the city so if i wanted to order live plants i’d be able to get them pretty quickly. it might be worth looking into if you have the same options near you!

I am definitely going to put some plants in my tank. I'm going to start with the easy to keep alive varieties haha. I can't get the plants yet though because I don't want to fill the tank before I have the stand. Also the only fish store within an hour drive from me is a Pet Supermarket (yuck) and their whole aquatic section is closed until next week.

 

i picked all easy varieties too and i’m so glad i did — they’re not any less beautiful than the harder stuff and it’s nice to have the instant gratification of everything doing well, lol. it does stink being held up waiting on that part shipment, though

 

Maybe by realising in lots of places in the world there isn't anything to wait for but only to hope for.
That's what makes it easier for me. Glad there is something to wait for.

 

I find something else to fill my time. Beating that video game that I love but haven't had time to get around to, finally cleaning my room, working on art for the first time in forever, or just... Animal Crossing.

 

Maybe by realising in lots of places in the world there isn't anything to wait for but only to hope for.
That's what makes it easier for me. Glad there is something to wait for.

Very true. A good dose of perspective always helps. It's always funny how small my problems seem when you think about what other people are going through

I find something else to fill my time. Beating that video game that I love but haven't had time to get around to, finally cleaning my room, working on art for the first time in forever, or just... Animal Crossing.

I do actually have a few things that I've been intending to do but haven't gotten around to. Time to get to it! Thanks