diff --git a/slic/utils/__init__.py b/slic/utils/__init__.py
index 36adc91c7..19e640441 100644
--- a/slic/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/slic/utils/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from .json import json_save, json_load
 from .npy import nice_linspace, nice_arange, fraction_to_percentage, within, within_fraction, get_dtype, get_shape, is_array
 from .path import can_create_all_files, can_create_file, glob_files, make_missing_dir
 from .pv import PV
+from .readable import readable_seconds
 from .screenshot import Screenshot
 
 
diff --git a/slic/utils/readable.py b/slic/utils/readable.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f72b7462
--- /dev/null
+++ b/slic/utils/readable.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+
+AVERAGE_WEEKS_PER_MONTH = 365.242 / 12 / 7
+
+# each tuple gives a unit and the number of previous units which go into it
+UNITS = (
+    ("minute", 60),
+    ("hour",   60),
+    ("day",    24),
+    ("week",    7),
+    ("month",  AVERAGE_WEEKS_PER_MONTH),
+    ("year",   12)
+)
+
+
+
+def readable_seconds(secs):
+    # adapted from https://stackoverflow.com/a/18421524/655404
+    unit, number = "second", float(abs(secs))
+    for next_unit, ratio in UNITS:
+        next_number = number / ratio
+        # if the next number is small, don't go to the next unit.
+        if next_number < 2:
+            break
+        unit, number = next_unit, next_number
+
+    shown = int(round(number))
+    unit += "" if shown == 1 else "s"
+    return f"{shown} {unit}"
+
+
+