Make Time Pass Quickly when Looking Forward to Something

According to a popular adage and famous pop song, the waiting is the hardest part. When you’re waiting for the results of a big test or counting down the days until your vacation, time can seemingly stand still. Stop pacing back and forth, watching the clock, and counting the seconds. Instead, make a plan to stay busy, be productive, and when all else fails, distract yourself!

Steps

Staying Busy

  1. Avoid watching the clock. Turn your clocks over or put them in a closet or drawer where you can’t see them. Set each clock for a slightly different time. When you check the time, you’ll have to remember how you adjusted this clock. This will help you redirect your thinking away from the passage of time. The same is true for electronic devices like cell phones and computers. If you want to use your cell phone or computer, switch the time zone. Just don't forget to change it back. The less you think about the time, the sooner it will pass.[1]
  2. Get out of the house. Visit friends. Go to the movie, or do something as simple as taking a walk or drive. Sitting at home will increase the temptation for you to watch the clock all day. Instead, go out, even if you only go out do something like returning an overdue library book or stopping by the ATM.[2]
  3. Spend time with family and friends. Invite your loved ones over or go to them. Play board games, talk, go out to eat. Whatever you do to pass time, it’s often easier to get your mind off of waiting when you have other people there to talk to and interact with.[3]
  4. Spend time at the gym. Exercise releases endorphins that help you feel happier and more relaxed. You don’t necessarily need a gym membership, but it may help to at least leave your house to exercise. Meet some friends to play basketball, go for a run, or take a bike ride.[2]

Being Productive

  1. Clean your home. Even if your house is tidy, there are always chores you put off until later. Wash the windows, clean the ceiling fans, or degrease the oven. These tasks typically don’t take more than an hour to do, but they will make that time go by more quickly.[4]
  2. Make something. Draw a picture. Write a story or a song. Bake a cake. There are many ways to be creative. However you want to do it, being creative can really make time speed by.[4]
  3. Make a to do list. This will help you concentrate on other things. Start with a list of things you can accomplish pretty quickly. For instance: make the bed, do laundry, pay bills, and buy groceries. Done with your list and still have time? Do some long term planning. What do you want to accomplish this week, this month, this year? Write your goals down and think of how you can efficiently achieve them.[4]
  4. Complete work you’ve put off. If you’re still in school, get a jumpstart on that report you’ve been procrastinating. Maybe you’ve been avoiding cleaning the gutters or responding to work emails. Whatever homework, housework, or employment work you’ve been putting off, get it done. It will have to be done eventually, and the concentration will keep your mind off of the time.[4]
  5. Catch up on your rest. It may sound silly, but many people who are anxious about time passing are also not great at getting enough sleep. If you’re counting the minutes, close your eyes and count some sheep instead.[4]

Finding Distractions

  1. Watch TV or a movie. Choose something you haven’t seen yet, so you will need to pay attention. You can also watch something that’s an old favorite, if you know it will make you feel more relaxed. Watching TV shows or movies also breaks time down into small chunks. For instance, if you need to make three hours go by more quickly, you can watch three episodes of a one hour long TV show.[5]
  2. Read a book. This is a great way to make time fly. Choose something engaging and easy to read. Actually, a good trick is to pick a book with short chapters. This will make it seem as though you’re accomplishing a lot and time is whizzing by. James Patterson, Dan Brown, and Margaret Atwood are all authors famous for their short chapters.[6]
  3. Listen to music. Music, like other forms of entertainment, is a great distraction. Turn on your favorite songs, sing or dance along, and just forget about the time. Listening to a specific album or playlist is also a great way to split time up into smaller components. Put your favorite playlist on repeat and relax as the time flies.[1]
  4. Get online. Do you like cat videos? Always wanted to read every recap of your favorite TV show? Still haven’t beaten the addictive 2048 puzzle game? Have you been meaning to catch up with all your friends’ social media pages? Now’s your chance. It’s easy to spend hours online doing any number of entertaining things.[1]

Tips

  • The key is to be distracted while being productive at the same time.
  • Make sure you're enjoying what you're doing.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://mentalfloss.com/article/68517/15-scientific-tricks-make-waiting-easier
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/extreme-fear/201102/controlling-the-flow-time
  3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201107/why-does-time-seem-pass-different-speeds
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 http://www.enkivillage.com/how-to-make-time-go-faster.html
  5. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=w9O3BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA169&lpg=PA169&dq=distractions+to+make+time+pass+more+quickly&source=bl&ots=vRyiLq4Woq&sig=TAxgjRYik2WRtyrY9W7MgkDQBZw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkyp25p-DRAhXEWCYKHYqKAswQ6AEIOjAF#v=onepage&q=distractions%20to%20make%20time%20pass%20more%20quickly&f=false
  6. ↑ https://www.2knowmyself.com/Articles1/how_to_make_time_go_faster

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