Forum: buddhism.stackexchange.com
Tags: <meditation>
Title: How can I stop thinking about the clock when meditating? I meditate for 30 minutes every day
Question: I normally meditate for 30 minutes but I cannot help but think about the time that the meditation is going to end and constantly thinking about the clock since normally you meditate to be in the present moment, but I am not in the present moment when I meditate. I appreciate any help.  Thank you :)

Answers:
sents: text: Focus on the clock, and you will find yourself getting distracted.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/43/Andrei Volkov
score: 2
sents: text: Do nothing.
text: Maintain a daily meditation practice.
text: Time will do the rest :)
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/16909/Punnabodhi
score: 2
sents: text: Use a timer/alarm so you do not need to think about it.
text: If you still think about it bring back your mind to the object of meditation.
text: One's mind may be checking the time as you desire the session to end.
text: This can be due to: session is uncomfortable you desire to do something else
text: The above reaction can be very subtle.
text: Look at what your mind is doing and get a handle on it.
text: Don't despair if it is uncomfortable and desire doing other things while meditating.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/295/Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
score: 1
sents: text: Notice that constantly thinking about the clock is stressful and that letting go of it can be much nicer and calmer.
text: Then you simply let go of it.
text: Do this with all thoughts and distractions.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/16668/Matan Tsuberi
score: 1
sents: text: Is it possible to be ok with the reality of this.
text: Can one become aware, of I am thinking about the clock, agitated figity.
text: Even thinking about, thinking about the clock?
text: It's ok, that may be a perfect meditation when you realize that it is this not that.
text: Even reading these words, this is the only reality, trying this advice later is not a reality.
text: The conflict of what is and what should be is very real difficulty in the world, that difficulty is here, and now.
text: So many people living in a rush, want to rush off to the next thing.
text: Take pictures to enjoy later and always miss out on the powerful presence of reality.
text: Whatever the reality is.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/16761/Crystal Ship
score: 1
sents: text: try what is in
text: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.020.soma.html you can also think about the past, future and the currently changing phenomena.
text: Experience changes as soon as it arises, like a monkey swinging from one branch to another, grabbing on to next one before letting go, so the expression of conditions coming into play is preceded by what has been and not of what is or will be.
text: Therefore the line of thinking; 'I am [feeling] bad because of this circumstance having to do with having sat for a long time is going to be changed eventually because the development i described counters both the perception of 'i am', establishes perception of inconstancy and changes how we think about time and
text: how we think and what we know about that which is 'thinking'.
text: think about the thinking itself and of that which you think about; feelings, thoughts & perceptions.
text: This could calm it and give a new perspective on things.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/8527/MAGA2020
score: 0
sents: text: Count your breaths.
text: For example, if you breath once every 15 seconds, then you would count up to 120 for 30 minutes.
text: After decades of meditation, I still count my breaths.
text: This is actually how I know when to ring the bell at the end of meditation during zazenkai.
text: I'm going blind and can't see any clock or watch.
text: After practicing counting breaths, you may find that you can simply sit for 30 minutes without counting and know when to get up.
text: It is an aspect of mindfulness to gauge time.
text: That internal sense of time even works for sleeping:
text: And then the Buddha spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.
text: DN33 Practice your internal sense of time.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/13709/OyaMist
score: 0
sents: text: That is default behaviour of mind, don't think about "
text: I'm thinking about the clock " just focus on the meditating mind, if it still coming neglect that thought.
text: Don't fight it
text: just forget about the interfering thought.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/12123/PL_Pathum
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
You should not despair if it is uncomfortable and you desire doing other things while meditating. Notice that constantly thinking about the clock is stressful and that letting go of it can be much nicer and calmer. It may help to count your breaths. Make sure to keep up a daily meditation practice.
Continue to meditate on a daily basis and count your breaths. Maybe even use a timer or alarm to prevent relying on the clock. Don't despair if it feels uncomfortable or if you want to do other things while meditating. Accept that constantly thinking about the clock is stressful and that letting go of this would be much calmer. Look inside your mind and understand what it going on.