Patients tend to feel a visit lasted longer when the doctor sits down. Being present changes how time feels.

How long something feels has little to do with the clock and a great deal to do with how much attention was in the room. Standing signals that you are leaving. Sitting signals that you are staying, and the same five minutes then registers as generous. Full attention gets experienced as more time than it actually was, which makes it the rare kindness that costs nothing extra.

Sit down this week when somebody wants to talk to you. Phone face down, bag off, stop standing in the doorway. If you only have five minutes, say so and then give all five.