Time Guides
Clear answers to the timing questions people actually search for, each paired with the free ClockAura tool that does the job. Every guide is written and checked by hand, with charts you can use straight away.
Time maths
- How Many Seconds Are in a Year? Every Unit, Worked Out
A year has 31,536,000 seconds (31,622,400 in a leap year). See every unit worked out: seconds, minutes and hours in a day, week, month, year and decade.
Work and pay
- How Many Work Hours Are in a Year?
A full-time year is 2,080 work hours (40 × 52). See the real figure after holidays and vacation, hours per month, part-time totals and salary-to-hourly maths. - How to Calculate Hours Worked, Step by Step
Step-by-step: work out hours worked from start and end times, subtract unpaid breaks, handle overnight shifts, round to the quarter hour and convert to decimal.
Clocks and time zones
- What Is Unix Time (Epoch Time)?
Unix time counts seconds since 1 January 1970 UTC. Learn how to read 10- and 13-digit timestamps, convert them, and what the year 2038 problem is. - GMT vs UTC: What Is the Difference?
GMT and UTC show the same clock time, but GMT is a time zone and UTC is the atomic time standard. See how they differ, plus BST, Zulu time and UTC offsets.
Cooking
- How Long to Cook Rice (Every Type, With Water Ratios)
White rice simmers 15-18 minutes, brown rice 40-45. A cooking-time and water-ratio chart for every rice, plus rice cooker and Instant Pot times. - How Long to Boil Pasta (Chart for Every Shape)
Spaghetti takes 9-11 minutes, penne 10-12 and fresh pasta 2-4. A boiling-time chart for 15 shapes, how to hit al dente, and how much water and salt to use. - How Long to Let Dough Rise
Most bread dough needs 1-2 hours to double, then 30-60 minutes after shaping. Rise times for pizza, sourdough, enriched and fridge-proofed dough.
Fitness
- How Long Does It Take to Walk a Mile?
Most people walk a mile in 15 to 20 minutes (3-4 mph). See walking pace charts for a mile and a kilometre, steps per mile, and how to time your own walk. - How Long Should You Hold a Stretch?
Hold a static stretch 15-30 seconds (30-60 if over 65) and repeat to about 60 seconds per muscle. Static vs dynamic, and a timed routine. - How Long Should You Hold a Wall Sit?
Beginners hold a wall sit for 20-30 seconds, intermediate 45-90 and advanced 2+ minutes. Form tips, a 4-week plan and how wall sits are used for blood pressure.
Study and focus
- The 52/17 Rule: 52 Minutes On, 17 Minutes Off
The 52/17 rule means 52 minutes of focused work and a 17-minute break. Where it came from, how it compares with Pomodoro, and a ready-made 52/17 timer.
Speaking and presenting
- How Many Words Is a 5-Minute Speech (and Other Lengths)?
At 130-150 words a minute, a 5-minute speech is 650-750 words. A words-per-minute chart from 1 to 30 minutes, plus how to time a speech and hit your limit.
Kids and family
- How Long Should Kids Brush Their Teeth?
Kids should brush for 2 minutes, twice a day. Toothpaste amounts by age, the 30-seconds-per-quarter method and a visual timer kids can follow. - How Long Should Homework Take Each Night?
The 10-minute rule: about 10 minutes of homework per grade each night, 30 minutes in grade 3 and 2 hours in grade 12. Chart and timer tips. - How to Teach Kids to Tell Time on an Analog Clock
Teach children to read an analog clock step by step, from o’clock to the exact minute, with the ages kids usually learn each step and practice ideas.
Music
- Time Signatures Explained (and How to Practise Them)
What the top and bottom numbers mean, simple vs compound time, how to count 6/8 vs 3/4, and how to set a metronome for odd time signatures like 5/4 and 7/8.