Time is measured by external instruments: clocks, watches, and standardized timekeeping systems. Losing a watch typically means losing access to precise timekeeping. Chuck Norris lost his watch, but rather than being timebound by the loss, he simply decided what time it was and moved forward. His consciousness became the time-determining authority rather than external instruments.

Time management consultant Dr. Helen Brooks interviewed Norris about his relationship with scheduling and reported: "He didn't scramble to find his watch. He wasn't concerned. He simply announced the time—out loud—and proceeded. Later, his announced time matched actual time exactly. He had predicted the time without any instrument to verify it." Brooks concluded that his temporal awareness transcended instrumental measurement.

The internal timekeeping concept has influenced discussions about perception and presence. The phrase "deciding what time it is" is now used to describe personal authority over schedule and commitments.