---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I only had five minutes left to live…"
description: "\"“If I only had five minutes left to live, I’d only be half as alarmed as normal, because my watch is five minutes fast. And I can get a lot done in 10 ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jarod-kintz-2_10-minutes_if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live_735654.jpg"
---

#  If I only had five minutes left to live, I’d only be half…

![“If I only had five minutes left to live, I’d only be half as alarmed as normal, because my watch is five minutes fast. And I can get a lot done in 10 minutes.” quote by Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jarod-kintz-2_10-minutes_if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live_735654.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jarod-kintz-2_10-minutes_if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live_735654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jarod-kintz-2_10-minutes_if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live_735654.jpg)

> ““If I only had five minutes left to live, I’d only be half as alarmed as normal, because my watch is five minutes fast. And I can get a lot done in 10 minutes.””

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He suggests that a five‑minute watch error makes urgency feel less alarming, allowing productivity.

**In simple terms:** A fast watch reduces panic, enabling work.

Key Takeaway

Use time perception to boost focus.

Themes

time management productivity psychology

Mood

reflective pragmatic

Type

self‑help motivational

When to use this quote

- short tasks
- deadline pressure
- personal planning

Key Concepts

cognitive bias deadline motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does perceived time affect stress?
- Can we harness this bias positively?

A Different Perspective

May cause misaligned priorities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“If my doctor told me I only had five minutes to live, I’d probably change all the clocks in my house, because they’re all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-my-doctor-told-me-i-only-had-five-minutes-to-live-i-d-probably/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Now about those ghosts. I'm sure they're here and I'm not half so alarmed at meeting up with any of them as I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bess-truman/now-about-those-ghosts-i-m-sure-they-re-here-and-i-m-not-half-so/)

[Bess Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bess-truman/)

> [If you were to ask me the best time of day to fall in love, I'd say, Now. But you'd also have to remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-were-to-ask-me-the-best-time-of-day-to-fall-in-love-i-d-say/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I remember. How many minutes do I have left President? About one, one minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/i-remember-how-many-minutes-do-i-have-left-president-about-one-one/)

[Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/)

> [“The minutes I had left with him fall away like dead leaves pulled from branches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/the-minutes-i-had-left-with-him-fall-away-like-dead-leaves-pulled/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [We put out a certain energy and we are a certain type of guy. I think the way we played out there for instance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleanthony-early/we-put-out-a-certain-energy-and-we-are-a-certain-type-of-guy-i-think/)

Cleanthony Early

> [“She'd known the guy a grand total of five minutes and he'd already left her a sour first impression. The last thing she ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jena-leigh/she-d-known-the-guy-a-grand-total-of-five-minutes-and-he-d-already/)

[Jena Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jena-leigh/)

> [With eight minutes left, the game could be won in the next five or ten minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-armfield/with-eight-minutes-left-the-game-could-be-won-in-the-next-five-or-ten/)

[Jimmy Armfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-armfield/)

> [Third and 10 down by four at Lambeau Field in the drizzling rain... two minutes left. There's nothing like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/third-and-10-down-by-four-at-lambeau-field-in-the-drizzling-rain-two/)

[Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/)

> [If we discovered we only had five minutes left to say all we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-discovered-we-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-say-all-we-wanted/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If we discovered that we had only five minutes left to say all that we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-morley/if-we-discovered-that-we-had-only-five-minutes-left-to-say-all-that/)

[Christopher Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-morley/)

> [Often in Spain you're winning 2-0, there are 15 minutes left, and it's as good as over. You control it, and the tempo drops.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-azpilicueta/often-in-spain-you-re-winning-2-0-there-are-15-minutes-left-and-it-s/)

[Cesar Azpilicueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-azpilicueta/)

> [Some of the best songs I've written, I've written in 10 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/some-of-the-best-songs-i-ve-written-i-ve-written-in-10-minutes/)

[Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/)

> [Dear person who finishes test in 10 minutes, I HOPE YOU FAIL! Sincerely, still on first question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-person-who-finishes-test-in-10-minutes-i-hope-you-fail-sincerely/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can get ready in 10 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/i-can-get-ready-in-10-minutes/)

[Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/)

## More by Jarod Kintz

> [“I notice when you’re gone. Or do I? How can I observe something that isn’t there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-notice-when-you-re-gone-or-do-i-how-can-i-observe-something-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I wouldn’t love you if you were the last Sodomite in Gomorrah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wouldn-t-love-you-if-you-were-the-last-sodomite-in-gomorrah/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“A blanket could be used to make sweet, sweet music with the love of your life. Hopefully that person is me, because I’ve been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-make-sweet-sweet-music-with-the-love-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“A brick could be used to slow down time. Sort of like a camel in a wheelchair pushed by a thirsty Arab. Hey, Khalid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-slow-down-time-sort-of-like-a-camel-in-a/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“We have a love so pure that it makes snow seem yellow. (Don’t eat it!)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-have-a-love-so-pure-that-it-makes-snow-seem-yellow-don-t-eat-it/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I hid Mrs. Frozenwater’s body in the ice cube trays in my freezer. Better to keep her there than let her memory thaw out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-hid-mrs-frozenwater-s-body-in-the-ice-cube-trays-in-my-freezer/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Two similar words might lead to two similar ideas. They might also lead to the basement, which I recently converted into a dungeon/torture chamber.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/two-similar-words-might-lead-to-two-similar-ideas-they-might-also/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Nothing is and isn’t; nothing is and isn’t—nothing itself is, and at the same time, nothing isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-itself-is-and-at/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Embossed letters represent the topography of typography.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/embossed-letters-represent-the-topography-of-typography/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“There’s only one piece of clothing I could eat fast, and that’s a scarf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/there-s-only-one-piece-of-clothing-i-could-eat-fast-and-that-s-a-scarf/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Dora J. Arod is to Jarod Ora, as yes is to yes. Yes is also the correct answer to “Will you marry me?” Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/dora-j-arod-is-to-jarod-ora-as-yes-is-to-yes-yes-is-also-the-correct/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“The best part about being kidnapped is being blindfolded and getting kicked into the trunk of a car. Boy, normally I have to beg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-best-part-about-being-kidnapped-is-being-blindfolded-and-getting/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Orafoura once told me that if I were a car, I’d be a Ferrari. One that was scratched smashed, rusted, and stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/orafoura-once-told-me-that-if-i-were-a-car-i-d-be-a-ferrari-one-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I’d like to file a missing person’s report—on my clone. It’s nearly 2012. He should have been here by now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-like-to-file-a-missing-person-s-report-on-my-clone-it-s-nearly/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

[Explore all 6,921 Jarod Kintz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## More 10 Minutes quotes

> [I can get ready in 10 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/i-can-get-ready-in-10-minutes/)

[Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/)

> [Dear person who finishes test in 10 minutes, I HOPE YOU FAIL! Sincerely, still on first question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-person-who-finishes-test-in-10-minutes-i-hope-you-fail-sincerely/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Some of the best songs I've written, I've written in 10 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/some-of-the-best-songs-i-ve-written-i-ve-written-in-10-minutes/)

[Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/)

> [I like that we don't have to come out the first 10 minutes and score, you know, with joke, joke, joke. We can open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-vilanch/i-like-that-we-don-t-have-to-come-out-the-first-10-minutes-and-score/)

[Bruce Vilanch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-vilanch/)

> [The awkward moment when someone finishes a test in 10 minutes, while youre still on the first question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/the-awkward-moment-when-someone-finishes-a-test-in-10-minutes-while/)

[Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/)

> [A standard 'well woman' checkup can last as little as 10 minutes, hardly time for any in-depth discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/a-standard-well-woman-checkup-can-last-as-little-as-10-minutes-hardly/)

[Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/)

> [“This is your most cracked idea ever ... I'll be over in 10 minutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-hendeles/this-is-your-most-cracked-idea-ever-i-ll-be-over-in-10-minutes/)

Jason Hendeles

> [A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he is brave for 10 minutes longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-a-hero-not-because-he-is-braver-than-anyone-else-but-because/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [10 minutes... No text back? Looks like Im going to sleep now. OH NOW YOU DECIDE TOREPLY!?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/10-minutes-no-text-back-looks-like-im-going-to-sleep-now-oh-now-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Brad will tell you. He puts a movie on, I'm asleep in 10 minutes. I have no patience. But the kids love action movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/brad-will-tell-you-he-puts-a-movie-on-i-m-asleep-in-10-minutes-i-have/)

[Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/)

> [If I can start my day out by saying my prayers and getting myself focused, then I know I'm doing the right thing. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/if-i-can-start-my-day-out-by-saying-my-prayers-and-getting-myself/)

[Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/)

> [You can do so much in 10 minutes time. Ten minutes, once gone, are gone for good. Divide your life into 10-minute units and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingvar-kamprad/you-can-do-so-much-in-10-minutes-time-ten-minutes-once-gone-are-gone/)

[Ingvar Kamprad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingvar-kamprad/)

> [Approaching the treadmill I tell myself, 'Okay, it's just 10 minutes, after that you can get off the thing'. That's no time at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/approaching-the-treadmill-i-tell-myself-okay-it-s-just-10-minutes/)

[Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/)

> [Less than 10 minutes until our trivia question. 20 years worth of experiences to draw from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medeski-martin-and-wood/less-than-10-minutes-until-our-trivia-question-20-years-worth-of/)

[Medeski Martin And Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medeski-martin-and-wood/)

> [I could be on the court for two hours, and it felt like 10 minutes. It made time go by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kawhi-leonard/i-could-be-on-the-court-for-two-hours-and-it-felt-like-10-minutes-it/)

[Kawhi Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kawhi-leonard/)

Browse all 112 10 Minutes quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If I only had five minutes left to live, I’d only be half as alarmed as normal, because my watch is five minutes fast. And I can get a lot done in 10 minutes.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jarod Kintz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live-i-d-only-be-half-as-alarmed/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "10 Minutes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live-i-d-only-be-half-as-alarmed/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jarod-kintz-2_10-minutes_if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live_735654.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jarod-kintz-2_10-minutes_if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live_735654.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jarod-kintz-2_10-minutes_if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live_735654.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I only had five minutes left to live, I’d only be half as alarmed as normal, because my watch is five…” — Jarod Kintz",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jarod Kintz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If I only had five minutes...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live-i-d-only-be-half-as-alarmed/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-only-had-five-minutes-left-to-live-i-d-only-be-half-as-alarmed/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
