Set the timer to 174 seconds

Online timer for 174 seconds

You are keeping half an ear on the conversation while your companion checks a detail, but your hands and attention are still occupied with the task in front of you. A pause of one hundred and seventy-four seconds gives them room to look properly without leaving you wondering how long the silence has lasted.

As you continue what you were doing, the phone may dim or lock before the check is finished. That does not usually stop the countdown, so there is no need to keep touching the screen and breaking your concentration. Leave the phone somewhere you can hear it, especially if the conversation is on speaker and you have stepped across the room.

While you wait for the answer, allow for how Australian heat can slow the person checking, particularly if they are outdoors, moving between worksites, or trying to read a screen in glare. The interval suits a quick confirmation, but a hot phone may respond sluggishly and bright sunlight can make small details harder to verify. If the answer arrives early, return your attention to the conversation; if it takes longer, let them finish rather than treating the signal as a deadline.