back

Tips on How to make your visitor's wait time more comfortable?

Wait Time psychology

In the modern era, THINGS ARE FAST, EVERYTHING IS INSTANT we need everything to be done soon. But still, in some scenarios, we encounter an “ idle time” before we get our turn. This “empty time” as stated by many renowned authors, may trigger no. of emotions such as frustration, annoyance, anger, anxiety, etc.. Such wait times are experienced at common public place seating like Airports, Hospitals, and so on.

Hospital Wait times

At Hospitals, Patient-Doctor visit involves a tedious workflow process. This process involves a lot of “empty time” or “wait time” in between. Nowadays healthcare facilitators have enhanced the waiting area environment & interaction facilities to ensure that visitors perceived quality of care is greater than what they have expected.

Waiting Area Chairs/ Lounge chairs

Of all the factors mentioned above, furniture plays a pivotal role in bringing a positive impact or impression in the minds of visitors. Providing a chair that can hold the visitor so well that the person feels comfortable and relaxed is very important.

Common waiting chair problems

• Use of materials that are prone to corrosion, which may disengage the seat from the main frame compromising on safety.
• Risk of cushions getting cut by sharp edges or child’s play, where eventually dirt and dust accumulate.
• Non-visibility of blood stains and tea/coffee stains makes it difficult to clean resulting in a bad odor.
• Repainting and Maintenance issues.

Best Waiting chair:

The best waiting area chair is the one which, overcomes all the above problems and provides a long-lasting comfort to all kinds of visitors. Here are some factors that can be considered while buying a common waiting area chair;

Material Construction: There should be no compromise in terms of safety while selecting a waiting chair, as this is the place where there are thousands of visitors every day. Strong, Durable materials, greater weight carrying capacity, better base construction, & soft materials(for seat & backrest) that are human-friendly are suggested. Sometimes use of Aluminum materials also simplifies cleaning and maintenance.

Well well-fitted Leg adjuster can balance the chair even on unlevelled surfaces. The use of Polyurethane Foam and nylon materials for the seat and backrest makes the chair long- lasting and comfortable.

Spacious: Well another factor that has to be considered is how spacious the chair is as it needs to accommodate people of different physiques.

Layout: Accumulating a lot of chairs in a small given space can be a great hindrance. Layout is very much necessary to have an organized seating Having space between each set., some room for walking will do good. Based on the room space the variants can be decided(Example - 2 seater, 3 seater, 4 or 5 seater)

Ergonomic design: Well another notable factor that can make people spend on chairs for long hours is Ergonomic design. The chair can be ergonomically designed such that it supports the natural curvature of the spine, still holding the visitor well and making him more comfortable.
A chair design with Lumbar support can prevent lower back pain while waiting for long hours. Also, an additional feature of having a high backrest can relax the stress on the neck and upper back.
Having handrails in between each seat also supports the elderly people to sit and stand at ease.

Aesthetics: Apart from material construction, aesthetics also plays a major role. Simple design and Vibrant colors that match the interiors and lighting add up to the value of the product and service.

Additional Features: An additional feature that can be provided is the power sockets to charge the electronic devices and side tables to store books, magazines, newspapers, etc. Adds up to the service.

Conclusion:

In general, the so-called common waiting room receives a large number of footfall, thus becoming the highest traffic area. It is important that the visitors are being taken good care in these areas. The waiting hall environment has a direct effect on visitors' attitudes towards waiting time. A well-contained artwork, educational support materials, Proper lighting, and well-sophisticated furniture have the chance of transforming the visitor‘s wait times from “good” to “great.”