Make Time Go by Faster

Are you home alone and bored, waiting for an event, or just waiting? If you are like most of us, then there are moments in your life that you wish would never end. There are also days in your life that seem to drag on forever. The next time you're climbing the walls from boredom during a business meeting, in class, waiting for someone, or as a passenger on a long ride to nowhere special, try these techniques to make time go by faster.

Steps

Entertaining Yourself

  1. Hang out with your friends. Spend a few hours talking, laughing, or doing whatever it is you do to kill the time with your friends. Boredom loves company, so the more people you hang out with, the merrier. However, if you can only find one person to hang out with, then this will be much more fun than spending the time alone.
    • If you don't have a free friend nearby, use this opportunity to catch up with an old friend who you've been meaning to call forever.
    • Even if you only have five minutes to chat with a friend or coworker, this can help to break up your day and pass the time.[1]
  2. Listen to music. Whether you are at home, school, or work, music can help your day to go faster and feel more enjoyable. Try listening to music throughout the day to help pass the time, or listen to a new or favorite song between classes or between tasks.[1]
    • For example, if you are studying, then you could listen to some upbeat electronic music to help pass the time.
    • Or, if you are at work, then you could play a song as a little reward after you finish each item on your to-do list for the day.
  3. Watch an old favorite TV show or movie. If you are at home and trying to pass the time, pick a show and binge watch a whole season! This will help to pass the time more quickly by keeping you entertained.[2]
    • Go on YouTube or Netflix and check out some of your childhood favorites: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Kenan and Kel, Blossom, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Step by Step, Charles in Charge, Small Wonder, "Full House"-- see how the shows you used to love have stood the test of time.
    • Or, watch a new release that you missed in the theater, such as the latest Marvel comic superhero movie, or an award winning film that all your friends have been talking about.
  4. Play games on your phone. Most phones come with at least one free game like Tetris or Pac-Man that can keep you distracted for more time than you’ll probably care to admit. However, this is not recommended when you're at school or work.
    • If you are at home and you have video game console or games on your PC, then this is another great way to pass the time.

Relaxing to Pass the Time

  1. Go for a walk. Getting outside and getting some fresh air will help to pass the time and it can also help to relieve stress. Try taking a quick walk around your neighborhood or office building. Even if you only have 10 minutes, going out for a quick walk is a great way to pass the time.
    • Try inviting a coworker or friend to join you on a walk to make it even more enjoyable. For example, if you are working, then you could take your break in the form of a walk with a coworker. You can even bring a cup of coffee or tea along with you to enjoy along with the fresh air and conversation.[1]
    • You can also walk around indoors if you cannot get outside. Take a lap around your office or desk at work, or walk back and forth down your hallway.[3]
    • If you are at school or work and cannot go outside to take a walk, then you can exercise without attracting too much attention to yourself, such as by fidgeting and clenching various muscles. You can do this at your computer, sitting in front of the tv, or just in your bedroom. If you’re stuck on a plane or train for long periods, try doing leg extensions or arm stretches.
    • If you’re a woman, you can also do Kegel exercises.
  2. Meditate. At first it might not make the time go by faster, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to enter a "timeless" state. Your mind is what keeps track of time, and meditating is about clearing your mind.
    • You can find a guided meditation recording on Youtube to help you if you have never meditated before.
    • You can even meditate while doing active things, such as running.[4] Try choosing a mantra to repeat and focus on as you go about your day.
    • If meditation doesn’t suit your restless mind, try daydreaming instead. Visualize yourself in an exciting place, story, conversation, or anything else that holds your interest.
    • You can also try to breathe deeply. Slow, deep breathing is calming and centering, and might actually get you to enjoy your current situation more than you thought possible. Try breathing in for eight counts, holding your breath, and breathing out for eight more. Repeat until it becomes natural and you can let your mind wander peacefully.
  3. Take a nap. Napping may not seem like an entertaining thing to do, but it can help to pass some time and make you feel more alert when you wake up. Whether you're nodding off during the afternoon slump at the office, working a nightshift or double shift, or fighting drowsiness while driving, a power nap in a safe location can make you more alert and productive.[5]
    • Try taking a quick 20 minute nap to recharge your batteries, or take a longer nap to pass some time.
  4. Write in a journal or start a blog. Writing is a great way to sort out your thoughts and it can also help to make the time go faster. Try writing in a journal about whatever is on your mind, or start a blog on something that interest you. You can start a blog for creative writing, cooking, video games or whatever interests you![6]
    • Set aside a time to write in your journal or blog every day, such as in the morning for 30 minutes or right after school each day.
    • Setting up a blog is easy with sites like Wordpress and Blogger, but it will take up some time so it is a great way to make time go more quickly. You can customize your blog with color schemes, fonts, and images to make it your own.

Being Productive

  1. Work on something that you will enjoy. One great way to pass the time is to choose a project that will be fun for you to work on. If you are at work or school, see if there is anything you can do that will be more enjoyable than your other tasks. If you are at home, think about what you like to do for fun and do whatever sounds like it will be the most fun for you.[1]
    • For example, if you are at work or school and you have a creative project you can work on, then pull that out and get started on it. If you are at home, then choose a favorite hobby or pastime, such as knitting, baking, playing guitar, or playing video games.
  2. Read. Finding a long book that interests you can make hours disappear! You can learn about Amelia Earhart, the history of Rome, or read a book about a foreign country. Whatever you're reading, you'll be gaining knowledge.
    • If you can’t sit and read, then try listening to an audiobook instead. This can be especially helpful during long workouts or when doing other physical activities.[7]
  3. Do your homework. Who would think that doing algebra or reading about Martin Van Buren, or "Old Kinderhook," as they used to call him, could help to pass the time? Well, you may not love doing your work, but once you get into it, you'll look up and see that an hour has passed. And if you make a habit of doing your homework whenever you want to kill time, think of what a great student you'll be!
    • You can even get a quick study group together and goof off a bit with your friends while trying to get some work done. Be sure to avoid goofing off too much, though, or you won't get anything done.
    • If you don’t have any homework, then try working on a to-do list for the day or for the week. Think of things you’d like to accomplish and make a list to work on now or later on.[8]
  4. Organize your room. First, throw out all of your food wrappers, cardboard boxes, junk that you can't donate, and whatever else is cluttering up your space. Then go through your stuff, one piece of furniture at a time, until you've managed to have a neat bed, desk, drawer, closet, and so on. And if you're only trying to kill an hour or two, then stick to one part of your room and be proud of the work you've done.
    • For even more fun, enlist a sibling or a friend to help you!
    • You can even take your old clothes that you no longer want to the local Goodwill or Salvation Army, and feel good about yourself for doing a good deed and clearing some closet space.
    • If you have a cleaning project that you have been putting off for a while, such as cleaning out a closet or organizing your jewelry, then this is a great time to tackle it.[6]
  5. Pick up a few phrases in a foreign language. You can't learn a language in one day, but you can learn how to say, "Hi, my name is..." and "How are you?" in just a few minutes. Pick a foreign language you've always wanted to learn and study it for a few minutes or longer.[8]
    • Try keeping a phrase-per-day calendar on your desk at work, at home, or in your backpack. Take five minutes every day to read the phrase silently and out loud. This will give you a break and give you something to look forward to each day.
  6. Respond to old emails. Do you have a backlog of emails that are just waiting for your response? If so, it may be time to turn on your computer and answer all of those people -- professors, friends, business contacts -- who have been waiting to hear from you. You'll feel relieved that you got this communication out of the way when you had nothing better to do.

Doing Creative Projects

  1. Make origami. Focusing on the intricacies of making origami may also take your mind off of the time. There are endless varieties of origami creations that you can make, and if you get really into it, you can make an entire origami zoo, or bouquet.
  2. Draw. Do a self-portrait, a caricature of someone nearby, or create a cartoon. If you don’t like the way you draw, close your eyes and try to draw something simple without lifting the pencil or pen once. The results may be interesting and unexpected, plus there’ll be no pressure to produce a masterpiece (though you might surprise yourself).
    • You can also look into a mirror and draw a self-portrait.
  3. Download a free sound editing system onto your computer. Edit people's voices to sound like a chipmunk or a gorilla, or make a singer sound like a child. You could also go further and try to create a cool song to share with your friends. You can also post the result on Facebook.
  4. Make a collage. Get some old magazines and cut up any cool-looking pictures. Then, make a random collage out of letters, people's heads, cute kitties, commercials for Bud Light, or whatever. You can write your sister a fake ransom note or create a sexy superhero out of the body parts of different celebrities. Or put the face of a celebrity on a fat, hairy body.
    • When you're done, hang up your masterpiece or give it to a friend.
  5. Write a poem about something that happened yesterday. It doesn't have to rhyme or sound like Robert Frost. It can be funny, quirky, sad and serious, or whatever you want it to be. Describe the hamburger you had for lunch in overly-poetic language, or write a serious poem about your relationship with your mom. Who knows, maybe you'll find that you were a poet and didn't even know it!
    • If you're happy with your creation, post it on Poetry.com.
  6. Finish a Pinterest project. Sure, you've pinned those cute polka dot sock puppets, the Jack-o'-lantern that looks like Jennifer Aniston, and the DIY tinfoil wedding dress, but when will you ever get around to completing these innovative projects? Now, obviously. Go through your list of projects, or find a new one on Pinterest, and see which one you can do in just a few hours. And then have at it!
    • If this sounds like too much of an effort, the simple act of browsing Pinterest can kill hours of your time.
  7. Take Artistic Photographs Grab your old camera or your phone and go around your house and back yard taking photos with interesting lighting and eye-catching furniture or objects. You may find that you have a passion for photography and can use this skill all the time.
    • You can even walk around your neighborhood or office building to take pictures and get some exercise in the process.

Tips

  • If it is an event you are waiting for, get ready for it. It's good to be prepared ahead of time and it helps you pass time.
  • Don't waste your time. Enjoy every single second because life is short.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-a-slow-day-at-work-go-by-faster-2015-8
  2. ↑ https://mom.me/pregnancy/22399-6-ways-make-end-your-pregnancy-go-faster/
  3. ↑ http://content.wisestep.com/make-time-go-faster-work-tips-speed-day/
  4. ↑ http://www.joggingbuddy.com/running-advice/how-to-make-long-runs-go-by-faster
  5. ↑ The effects of a 20 minute nap taken in mid-afternoon, on mood, performance and EEG activity, are restored alertness and enhanced performance. Clin Neurophysiol. 2003 Dec;114(12):2268-78.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://mom.me/pregnancy/22399-6-ways-make-end-your-pregnancy-go-faster/
  7. ↑ http://www.joggingbuddy.com/running-advice/how-to-make-long-runs-go-by-faster
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.jobacle.com/blog/how-to-make-time-go-faster-at-work.html
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