Set the timer to 170 seconds

Online timer for 170 seconds

While the other person checks a detail, start the countdown and step away from the screen for two minutes and fifty seconds. Put your phone within earshot, then use the pause to refill your water, straighten the papers beside you, or look out the window. You can return to the conversation when the alert sounds instead of watching each second pass.

If their check is likely to take a little longer or finish quickly, the interval can be changed directly on the page. That flexibility suits conversations involving an Australian train time, a booking reference, or a public holiday date, where finding the right information may depend on the day and connection. Adjusting the countdown keeps the pause aligned with what they are actually checking.

During the silence, choose one small task that has a natural stopping point. Rinse a mug, put away three loose items, or jot down the next point you want to discuss; each occupies your attention without pulling you into something lengthy. Keep the task nearby so the alert brings you back without a rushed walk from another room.