How to Make Time Go Faster: 14 Useful Tips

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - We all know that feeling when time moves like a snail. You look at the clock during a boring meeting and only five minutes have passed since you last checked. Learning how to make time go faster can help you get through these difficult moments more easily.

Sometimes an hour feels like a whole day, while other times a full weekend disappears in what seems like minutes. This happens to everyone, whether you are waiting for your lunch break, sitting in traffic, or counting down to an important event.

If you feel like your time passes so slowly and wondering how to make time go faster, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will share some helpful tips to help you speed up the time. We gathered these tips from various sources, Thursday (22/1/2026).

So, what makes us feel that time goes too slow? Here are the main reasons that make minutes feel like hours.

- You Keep Looking at the Clock: When you check the time every few minutes, it makes time feel much slower. Your brain focuses on waiting instead of doing something useful. This is like watching water boil - the more you stare, the longer it takes.

- You Are Not Busy Enough: Empty time always feels longer than busy time. When you have nothing interesting to do, your mind starts thinking about how bored you are. This makes every minute feel like it takes forever to pass.

- You Feel Stressed or Worried: Anxiety makes time crawl because your brain keeps thinking about future problems. When you worry about something that will happen later, you become very aware of each passing minute.

- Everything Feels the Same: Doing the same boring tasks over and over makes time drag. Your brain stops paying attention to new things, so nothing feels exciting or different enough to make time move faster.

- You Are in an Uncomfortable Place: Being somewhere you do not want to be makes time feel endless. Whether you are stuck in a long line or sitting through a dull presentation, discomfort makes every second feel longer.

- You Are Waiting for Something: Anticipation is one of the biggest time killers. When you are excited about something that will happen later, waiting becomes painful and time seems to stop completely.

Now that you know why time feels slow, here are proven ways to make it speed up. These simple tricks can work in almost any situation.

- Stop Watching the Clock: Put your phone away and avoid looking at clocks or watches. Cover the time display on your computer with tape if needed. When you stop focusing on time, it passes much more quickly without you noticing.

- Break Your Day into Small Parts: Divide long periods into shorter blocks with different activities. Instead of thinking about eight hours of work, think about four two-hour sessions. Complete one block, then move to the next one.

- Do Something You Actually Enjoy: Find activities that make you happy and engaged. When you do things you love, time flies because your mind focuses on the fun instead of the waiting. Even small enjoyable tasks can make a big difference.

- Learn a New Skill: Use slow time to study something interesting. Download a language app, watch educational videos, or read about topics you care about. Learning keeps your brain busy and makes time pass quickly.

- Listen to Music or Podcasts: Put on background sound that you enjoy. Music and interesting podcasts give your mind something to focus on besides the clock. Choose content that matches your energy level and situation.

- Move Your Body: Physical activity makes time speed up because movement keeps your mind engaged. Take a walk, do stretching exercises, or clean your workspace. Even small movements help time pass faster.

- Talk to Other People: Social interaction is one of the best ways to make time fly. Call a friend, chat with coworkers, or join online conversations. Connecting with others takes your mind off waiting and makes any situation more enjoyable.

- Challenge Your Brain: Solve puzzles, play games, or do mental exercises that require thinking. When your brain works hard on interesting problems, you forget about time completely. Choose challenges that match your skill level.

- Create a Regular Schedule: Having a routine helps time feel more predictable and manageable. When you know what comes next, there are fewer empty moments where time can drag. Build habits that give structure to your day.

- Focus Completely on One Task: Enter a "flow state" by concentrating fully on a single activity. Choose something that challenges you but is not too difficult. When you are completely absorbed in work, hours can pass without you realizing it.

- Change Your Environment: Move to a different location if possible. Go to another room, step outside, or rearrange your workspace. New surroundings stimulate your brain and make time feel like it is moving faster.

- Help Someone Else: Volunteer to assist others with their tasks or problems. Helping people keeps you busy and gives you a sense of purpose. Time passes quickly when you focus on making someone else's day better.

- Set Small Goals: Create mini-deadlines throughout your day and reward yourself when you reach them. Having frequent achievements makes time feel productive instead of wasted. Celebrate each small victory to stay motivated.

- Practice Deep Breathing: When you feel anxious about time, take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind. Stress makes time feel slower, so relaxation techniques can help normalize your time perception and reduce frustration.