How to Speed up Time

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We’ve all been stuck in a boring class or meeting watching the second hand on the clock tick by at a snail’s pace. When you’re doing something that isn’t interesting, it can make time stretch out like molasses. Fortunately, there are a few different ways you can make time speed up (or at least trick your brain into thinking it’s going faster). You can try out a few of these tips at work, at school, or when you’re home with nothing to do to see which ones work best for you!

1

Stop glancing at the clock. [1]

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  1. How about now? Checking the clock might seem like a good way to keep track of time, but it can actually make time go by slower than if you weren’t paying attention.
    • If you’re wearing a watch, take it off and put it away. If you have your phone on you, try not to look at it for a long stretch of time. Before you know it, it’ll be time to call it a day.
    • Try making it a challenge to see how long you can go without checking the time. Can you make it 5 minutes? How about 10?
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2

Break up your time into chunks. [2]

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  1. But what about three 2-hour periods? You can chunk your time by adding breaks at the end of each chunk or setting a goal to complete a task within each chunk.
    • You can also break up time by your workload or assignments. If you have 3 things left to do today, tackle the first one, then take a break. It will make time go by faster, and you’ll get a little reward for each item on your to-do list.
3

Switch up your routine. [3]

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  1. Doing the same thing over and over gets repetitive and boring, so mix it up a little.
    • If you’re stuck at home on a long weekend or you don’t have anything to do after school, try out a new activity, game, or puzzle
    • If you’re bored on a commute, try taking a different route to work.
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4

Entertain your brain with tough tasks. [4]

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  1. Homework, paperwork, projects, and crafts can all be useful in this situation, so grab one and dive right in.
    • Math worksheets or dense essays won’t be as engaging as creative projects (unless that’s your thing, in which case, go for it!)
    • Ever stayed up all night because you were so engrossed in your work? Losing yourself in something tough and challenging can help you repeat the trick.
5

Boost your energy with a snack. [5]

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  1. Plus, the protein can give you an energy boost to help you get through the rest of your day.
    • Go for a granola bar, some yogurt, an apple, or a smoothie to fill your stomach and give you the energy to finish up your work.
    • It’s tempting to reach for the donuts or cookies, but eating a bunch of sugar can make you feel sluggish and tired—and when you’re moving slowly, time does, too.
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6

Get up and move around. [6]

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  1. Try taking 5 minutes and getting out of your chair to do something active.
    • Try taking a short walk around the block to stretch your legs.
    • Or, jump some rope to get your heart rate up.
    • If you’re at work, take a quick jaunt around the office (as long as you come back to finish up your work).
7

Check out your surroundings. [7]

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  1. You can try to engage your brain in other ways by noticing the different textures of the vehicle you’re in, taking in the beauty of nature, or looking for objects of a specific color.
    • If you’re on a road trip, you can actually play I Spy with the other passengers (if they’re willing!)
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8

Reward yourself. [8]

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  1. Having a fun reward to look forward to can help the time pass by faster since you know you’ve got something exciting coming up.
    • If you’re finishing up a tough stint at school, try buying yourself that new sweater you’ve been eyeing.
    • If you’re working on a particularly tough task at your job, go out for a drink once it’s done.
9

Talk to someone to pass the time. [9]

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  1. If you’re at home, have a chat with one of your family members. If you’re at school or work, talk about your weekend with your peers or coworkers.
    • Make sure you aren’t distracting your conversation partner from their own work! That won’t make you very popular around the office or the school yard.
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10

Throw on some tunes. [10]

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  1. Pick out some music that doesn’t distract you (maybe classical?) and put on some headphones.
    • If you’re working on something super easy and you can handle being distracted, put on a podcast or an audiobook to really engage your brain.
11

Take a nice bath. [11]

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  1. Run the hot water, throw in some bubbles, and light some candles, because you’re gonna relax the day away.
    • You could also make a full spa day out of it, with face masks, leave-in conditioner, and a mani/pedi.
    • If you don’t think a bath will distract you enough, put on some music or a podcast to listen to while you soak.
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12

Do a deep clean. [12]

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  1. Mop the floors, scrub the toilet, and wipe down the counters to get productive and fill your time up with chores.
    • Hit the laundromat, go through a car wash, or do some yard work if you’re tired of being stuck inside.
    • Admit it: it’s probably high time for a deep clean anyway, right?
13

Check in with your pet. [13]

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  1. Maybe your dog or cat would enjoy a walk, or your hamster might like a fresh water bottle. Animals are man’s best friend, after all.
    • Take your dog to the dog park to mix up your routine a little bit.
    • Or, get your cat a new toy so you can run around the house together.
    • If your pet needs some exercise too, combine your walk with their own to pass the time.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Do you have any advice on how to be more mindful and live in the moment, instead of focusing on money?
    Rachel Clissold
    Certified Life Coach
    Rachel Clissold is a Life Coach and Consultant in Sydney, Australia. With over six years of coaching experience and over 17 years of corporate training, Rachel specializes in helping business leaders move through internal roadblocks, gain more freedom and clarity, and optimize their company’s efficiency and productivity. Rachel uses a wide range of techniques including coaching, intuitive guidance, neuro-linguistic programming, and holistic biohacking to help clients overcome fear, break through limitations, and bring their epic visions to life. Rachel is an acclaimed Reiki Master Practitioner, Qualified practitioner in NLP, EFT, Hypnosis & Past Life Regression. She has created events with up to 500 people around Australia, United Kingdom, Bali, and Costa Rica.
    Rachel Clissold
    Certified Life Coach
    Expert Answer
    It's really focusing your attention on what you want. It's not the money that we want. It's the ticket to Bali. It's the meal on the table. When we shift our focus to what we want, everything just starts to flow and starts to happen. When we focus on making money, it removes the joy. Shift your attention to what you want rather than the money, because you don't want the money, you want the object or freedom.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I speed time when I'm sleeping?
    Aaron Harrington
    Community Answer
    You have no sense of time when you are sleeping, so by sleeping, you are already speeding up time.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 35 Helpful 145
  • Question
    How do I speed up time in school?
    Community Answer
    Your mind will automatically pick up what's going on around you. Play with your hands, write words on yourself with your finger, imagine how much of an object would fit in the room, or even try to make a complex math problem in your head.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • My favorite way to speed up time is to turn on a movie or TV show. You can always find something new to watch on Netflix or YouTube.
      • If you have siblings, ask them questions to pass the time and deepen your connection. They can be fun, silly, or serious!
      • You can also play with a Rubik's Cube, fidget spinner, or stress relief ball to pass the time.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2c7nMpXf7ckY4tRlpfB4sdq/how-to-speed-up-or-slow-down-time
      2. ↑ https://medium.com/@nancylinchen/how-to-effectively-break-up-your-time-for-maximum-productivity-82c0d6ce280a
      3. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2c7nMpXf7ckY4tRlpfB4sdq/how-to-speed-up-or-slow-down-time
      4. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/how-to-make-time-move/515361/
      5. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-a-slow-day-at-work-go-by-faster-2015-8
      6. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-a-slow-day-at-work-go-by-faster-2015-8
      7. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2c7nMpXf7ckY4tRlpfB4sdq/how-to-speed-up-or-slow-down-time
      8. ↑ https://www.theclassroom.com/can-weeks-go-faster-school-8363005.html
      9. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-a-slow-day-at-work-go-by-faster-2015-8
      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3713348/
      2. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/article/things-to-do-when-bored.html
      3. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/article/things-to-do-when-bored.html
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a26872864/what-to-do-when-bored/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To speed up time, cover up the clocks in your home with a cloth or piece of paper, since looking at clocks will remind you of how slowly time is passing. Alternatively, speed up your perception of time by raising the room temperature, or sniffing some baby powder sprinkled on your skin. If you enjoy mental exercises, try killing time by making lists, such as an inventory of everything you have in the kitchen. For a more physical distraction, work on a project you’ve been putting off, like putting up new shelves or cleaning out the garage. For more tips, like how to change your perception of time by increasing your dopamine levels, read on.

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Nov 30, 2017

        "I relaxed my body and tried the hypnosis one and it helped a lot. Another that helped was the bath or shower one. ..." more
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