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Are you one of those people who, when asked how long ago something happened or how long something took, you give a rough estimate that's way off? Or are you chronically late because you're convinced that your morning routine or commute takes 15 minutes when in reality, it takes 25 or 30? Do you cook a dish for 50 minutes rather than 30 (as the recipe instructed) because you "lost track of time"? Some people are better able to judge the passing of time than others, but fortunately, this is an ability that can be developed with the following exercises.
Steps
Keep all your clocks as correct as you can make them. Remember to check the ones on your computer, car, and cell phone. When you enter a new environment, check any clocks and note whether or not they match yours. While you are training yourself, wear a watch or carry a phone or other clock with you at all times. The more accurate your clocks, the better you'll be able to fine-tune your sense of time.
Stabilize your circadian rhythm. Humans have a natural internal clock that regulates biological processes. If this rhythm is disrupted, not only will you have difficulty judging time, but it can also have negative effects on your health and productivity.[1] To keep your circadian rhythm optimized, develop a routine in which you eat, sleep, and expose yourself to natural light at about the same times each day.
Every time you think of it, guess to yourself what time it is. Check a clock or watch. Make a point of correcting yourself. Think or say to yourself something like "I thought it was 10:20, but it's actually 10:34. I was 14 minutes slow." This is your time sense gap.- You can make it a habit to do this every time you encounter a certain landmark or object, such as a stop sign, traffic light or mirror.
- You may want to try guessing the time when you awaken, if you do not wake to an alarm.
Whenever you get a chance, check a clock and make note of the time. Go about your regular life, attempting to guess when it has been one hour. Check a clock on your guess and make note of your time sense gap. As you get better, vary the time intervals you try to guess.
When you start a task with a defined beginning and end (reading a chapter of a book, driving to a friend's house, taking a shower) guess how long it will take you. When you finish, guess how long it actually took you. Check the time. How far off was your initial guess? How far off was your second guess?
When you start a task that has a specified time frame (like when cooking), set a timer for the upper end of the range given. For example, if you're to cook oatmeal for 3-5 minutes, set a timer for 5 minutes. Assign yourself the task of guessing when 3 or 4 minutes have passed. If you make a mistake, the timer will save you from having burnt oatmeal. But with practice, you'll develop a sense for how long to leave the oatmeal cooking, as many chefs learn to do with various dishes they cook often.
Record your progress in a time sense journal. Whenever you observe a time sense gap, write it down. You might notice a pattern, like that you tend to be about 15 minutes slow in the morning, and 30 minutes fast in the afternoon. Or, like most people, time will seem to pass slowly when you're doing something monotonous or boring, and pass quickly when you're keeping busy or having fun. As you continue matching your guesses with reality, your sense of time will noticeably improve.Advertisement
Expert Q&A
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- QuestionWhat are some ways to manage your time with respect to being more productive?
Sydney AxelrodSydney Axelrod is a certified life coach and the owner of Sydney Axelrod LLC, a life coaching business focused on professional and personal development. Through one-on-one coaching, digital courses, and group workshops, Sydney works with clients to discover their purpose, navigate life transitions, and set and accomplish goals. Sydney has over 1,000 hours of relevant coaching certifications and holds a BBA in Marketing and Finance from Emory University.
Certified Life CoachAsk yourself the following. What works best for me? When do I work best? What do I need to be my most productive self? Then find a way to put boundaries in place so that you can be in your element. Also, get clear on what one, two, or three things you want to accomplish today, as opposed to a to-do list of 50 things. Even if you have that many things to do, what are the three most important things? Start with those, cross those off, and then do more. - QuestionHow do I wake up early in the morning?
PattiCommunity AnswerGo to bed early so you get enough rest. You may want to try placing your alarm clock on a dresser or table across the room, which makes you get out of bed to shut it off (the annoying buzz sound is better than waking up to music). If a parent or roommate awakens before you, ask them to hound you to get up at a certain time. If you have a pet, they will get you up for their morning call of nature.
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Tips
- Some children who grow up in an unstructured household (in which activities are not in any way associated with time) may have difficulty adjusting to school, where many activities are scheduled (like having crayons taken away because coloring time is over or not finishing a test because time is up). Offering children a sense of time and sequence (like "Finish cleaning your room so you can play with your brother when he gets home at 2:30") can help.[2]Thanks
- It can help to get a clock or watch which beeps or chimes at each hour. This will help attune your body to the "rhythm" of the day.Thanks
- If you need to you should always set your alarm 5-15 minutes early so you can hit the snooze, or have more time to get ready.Thanks
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Warnings
- Being very precise about time ("I'll be at your house in 8 1/2 minutes") can make you seem uptight. Let your friends know why you're being so fussy.Thanks
- People with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Schizophrenia often struggle with time perception.[3] If you display any other symptoms of these conditions, see a doctor.Thanks
- Nicotine cravings can cause you to perceive time as passing more slowly than it really is.Thanks
- Stimulants (including caffeine) may cause you to overestimate time intervals, while depressants may do the opposite.[4]Thanks
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References
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