How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

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parts

1Playing the Game

2Respecting Limits

3Resisting Peer Pressure

Other Sections

Tips and Warnings

Things You'll Need

Related Articles

References

Article Summary

Co-authored bywikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 15, 2021ReferencesApproved

The game 7 Minutes in Heaven is a party game played mostly by teenagers. Two people are chosen to spend 7 minutes alone in a dark, enclosed space. During this time, you can do whatever you choose. Many players use this time to talk privately or take part in more intimate activities, like kissing and making out.[1] No matter how you choose to play the game, you should always respect the limits of others and never do anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Playing the Game

  1. 1

    Ready the game location. You'll need a small, closed off area of your home to play this game. This area is generally dark, though you could also choose one that is well lit. You might also want to include chairs for players to sit in, though this is not necessary to play the game.[2]

    • Some locations you might consider for your game include a closet, a bathroom, or a laundry room, to name a few.
    • If you want the room to be dark at all times, you could remove the light bulb(s) from the fixture(s) in the room.
    • Be sure that the area is clear and free of any obstacles that might be dangerous, especially if you've removed the lights from the room.
    • To keep players from watching the clock, you may want to remove clocks from the room where you'll be playing the game. This may include cell phones and watches.
  2. 2

    Gather the players. Typically, this game is played with a roughly equal number of boys and girls, though depending on the preferences of the players, this might not always be the case. A group of 10 - 14 is common, though the game can be played with as few as 6 people.

    • You may want to play with friends from school, your neighborhood, or if you're at camp, you might try to play the game with campmates.
  3. 3

    Explain the rules to the players. Now that the room is prepared and you have your players gathered, you'll need to explain the rules of the game. This is particularly important because there can be many different variations of 7 Minutes in Heaven. Generally, the rules include:

    • Selecting two people at random.
    • Sending the chosen two into the room for a private 7 minutes. Don't forget to close the door!
    • Letting the chosen two out of the room at the end of 7 minutes.
    • You might also create "house rules" when you play, like "the lights have to be on/off" or "no watches or cell phones allowed in the room."
    • To prevent anyone from feeling uncomfortable, you may want to make a rule that no one has to go into the room unless they want to.[3]
  4. 4

    Create a random lottery. This is how you're going to select the two people sent into the room for their 7 minutes in heaven. You might spin a bottle to randomly select two people or draw names from a hat. If you want to ensure that a boy and girl each are sent into the room, you could arrange your lottery by gender.

    • To split your lottery by gender, you might spin the bottle once for the boys and another time for the girls. The person the bottle points to in each group will be sent to the room.
    • When drawing names from a hat or container, you might have one container for girls and one for boys. Each round of the game, you can select one name from each.
  5. 5

    Play the game. Each round of the game consists of two people in the room for 7 minutes. You can play the game for as many rounds as you want, though you may want other activities, like a board game or cards, to keep other players occupied while waiting for the chosen two to finish their 7 minutes in heaven.[4]

    • A timer with a dramatic alert, like a siren, can add to the atmosphere of this game while helping you keep track of time.
    • When the timer is up, knock on the door and let the chosen two know that it's time to come out. Then you can select two new players with your random lottery.
    • You may want a dramatic reveal at the end of the 7 minutes in heaven. If this is the effect you desire, you could open the door suddenly when the time is up.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Respecting Limits

  1. 1

    Set clear limits before playing. If there are no rules limiting how far you can go when playing this game, it's a good idea to set some personal limits with the person you'll be sharing your 7 minutes in heaven with. If you don't, the other player might misinterpret the signals you are setting and go too far.[5]

    • You might say something like, "Can we just talk?" or "Let's talk first. I might be OK with a kiss, but I don't want to rush into it."
    • You could also establish a firm boundary by saying, "Kissing is OK, but I'm not OK with other touching."[6]
  2. 2

    Voice discomfort as soon as it happens. Sometimes something will make you feel uncomfortable without you knowing it beforehand. When this happens, you should use straightforward language to tell the other player that you feel uncomfortable and want to stop.[7]

    • For example, if you are touched in a way you don't like, you could say, "No. I don't want to be touched there."
    • It can be difficult telling someone "No," but if you don't, things might go farther than you intended. You should never take part in something that makes you feel uncomfortable.[8]
  3. 3

    Ask the other player before trying something new. This includes things like hand-holding, petting, or other kinds of touches that might exceed the personal boundaries of the other player. This way, you don't accidentally violate someone's boundaries without knowing.

    • It only takes a quick second to ask, "Is it OK if I hold your hand?" or "Is it alright for me to touch you like this?"[9]

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Resisting Peer Pressure

  1. 1

    Collect your thoughts.[10] Give yourself a moment and take a deep, calming breath. In a peer pressure situation, emotions can get out of hand and make you say or do things you don't mean. Pausing for a moment will help you avoid a hasty response and better understand yourself in the moment.[11]

    • You might want to ask yourself, "What kind of person do I want to be? Would that person do this?" If the answer is no, it's likely you should not participate.
  2. 2

    Speak clearly about your feelings. People often get caught up in group mentality, but by expressing your personal feelings, you can connect with your friends/other players. This brings things from a group context to a personal one, making it easier for your friends to identify with you.[12]

    • You could say, "I love hanging out with you guys and I don't want to be a stick in the mud, but I really don't feel comfortable playing this game."
  3. 3

    Make an excuse. Though honesty is almost always the best policy, if your friends/other players are determined to get you to play, an excuse can come in handy. This doesn't have to be a big fib, you could say something as simple as:[13]

    • "My throat's been a little sore lately and I don't want to get anyone sick."
    • "I'm really embarrassed, but I have a canker sore that's been bothering me so I can't play."
  4. 4

    Suggest another activity instead. There are plenty of group games you could play instead, and some of the other players might want to play these even more than 7 Minutes in Heaven. Some examples include Twister, charades, pictionary, UNO, and more.[14]

    • You may want to favor games that you know others in the group enjoy. You stand a better chance of playing a different game if others want to play.

Community Q&A

  • Question

    Why can't it be 20 minutes instead of 7 minutes?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (13)

    Community Answer

    It can be if you want. It is just tradition that but most people do seven minutes, also some people may not want to leave people in there too long so that nothing bad happens.

  • Question

    Is it true that sometimes people have sex while in the closet during playing 7 minutes in heaven?

    It is true that sometimes people take this game to an intimate level, but you should never take part in something that makes you feel uncomfortable or engage in sex before you are ready. Doing so could result in pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, or other complicated situations.

  • Question

    What do I do if I would like to go longer than seven minutes?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (15)

    Community Answer

    You could ask before the game starts if everyone wants to agree on a longer time period. Otherwise, try to stick to the seven minutes so everyone gets a turn to play.

  • Question

    What happens if they want to "do something" but don't feel like they really have privacy?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (16)

    Community Answer

    If you feel like you don't actually have the privacy to do something, you may want to avoid doing it. In some cases, people may be listening at the door to the room where you're having your 7 Minutes in Heaven.

  • Question

    Last time, they made a rule that I had to kiss. What if I don't want to?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (17)

    Community Answer

    You don't have to kiss. Try explaining it to them, or just don't play with that group of people.

  • Question

    What if I want to French kiss but they don't?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (18)

    Community Answer

    Respect other people's boundaries. If the other person doesn't feel comfortable, don't force him/her to do anything.

  • Question

    This game sounds dirty and gross. My friends tried to force me to do it, but I didn't. Would they see me as a wimp?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (19)

    Community Answer

    They could, but they shouldn't if they're good friends, and they definitely should not try to force you to do anything you're not comfortable with. Not wanting to have to kiss or touch people you're not romantically interested in, or not wanting to make a game of such things, has nothing to do with being a wimp; it's perfectly reasonable. If you don't want to do it, don't let anyone pressure you. See Method 3.

  • Question

    What happens if I get put on the room with someone I hate? Do we just stare at each other?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (20)

    Community Answer

    You can do whatever you want in the room. You can talk, ignore each other or just stare at each other. It's up to you.

  • Question

    What if the people at the party take it too far and force me to play when I don't want to?

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (21)

    Community Answer

    Leave the party immediately. You should never stay someplace where you feel you're not being respected and/or are being pressured to do something you don't want to do.

  • Question

    Is there anything sexual involved? My friends are going to play it but not sure if it's appropriate.

    How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (22)

    Community Answer

    This game does not require you to be sexual, but in some cases that does happen. If you feel uncomfortable, you might suggest playing a different game or opt out of playing.

Show more answers

Warnings

  • Don't do anything in the closet to make the other person feel uncomfortable. Anything you do should be mutual.

    Thanks!

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Things You'll Need

  • Dark room
  • Stopwatch (or cell phone)

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About This Article

How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (36)

Co-authored by:

wikiHow Staff Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 1,046,398 times.

136 votes - 83%

Co-authors: 103

Updated: September 15, 2021

Views:1,046,398

Categories: Party Games

Article SummaryX

To play 7 minutes in heaven, start by finding a group of at least 6 players. Then, write down everyone's names on small pieces of paper and put them into a container. When you're ready, draw 2 names from the container and have those players go into a closet or room together for 7 minutes with the lights off. After 7 minutes, draw 2 more names and repeat! Remember that players don't have to do anything they're not comfortable with when it's their turn, and no one should be forced to go into the room if they don't want to. To learn how to respect someone's limits when you're playing 7 minutes in heaven, scroll down!

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How to Play 7 Minutes in Heaven: 12 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)
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