Waiting and Resting

How to Wait and Change the Time in Fallout 4

Like many players, I did not know how to wait and change the time in Fallout 4 when I first started. Waiting is done by using a chair or bed. Simply sitting will allow you to then push a button which brings up a wait menu - how long you'd like to wait.

You can also do this using a bed in one of your own Settlements. If you do it in one that you own (you own all beds in Settlements unless they're taken) or have rented from an NPC, then you get a rested bonus which grants +10% XP for 8 hours. This is very handy for speeding up gaining levels.

There are strategic advantages to doing this. Many quests are not timed (except those that pop up when you visit a Settlement, or when one is under attack), so there's little drawback.

You may prefer playing during the day to have a better view of the Commonwealth's beautiful post-nuclear landscape (heh) or take advantage of the night. Enemies do not see as well in darkness, so it can be beneficial to players who use Stealth for sneak attacks. Enemies' Perception stat plays a huge role, but so too do other factors, in particular the light level of where you're hiding and the noise generated by your weapon.

You don't get an XP bonus for sitting in a chair but there's no reason not to do so. You can actually get another XP boost by sitting on a church pew and contemplating your horrid existence in this new world.

So, there you have it. Find a chair and have a good sit-down and advance the game time however you like. The game is open-ended and there's no rush, so you can sleep all night and play only during the day if it suits your fancy.