diff --git a/ccnx/sync-scheduler.cc b/ccnx/sync-scheduler.cc
index 4ec13de..866f742 100644
--- a/ccnx/sync-scheduler.cc
+++ b/ccnx/sync-scheduler.cc
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-Scheduler::schedule (const boost::posix_time::time_duration &reltime, Event event, uint32_t label)
+Scheduler::schedule (const TimeDuration &reltime, Event event, uint32_t label)
 {
   {
     lock_guard<mutex> lock (m_eventsMutex);
diff --git a/ccnx/sync-scheduler.h b/ccnx/sync-scheduler.h
index 53b40af..c7ebe09 100644
--- a/ccnx/sync-scheduler.h
+++ b/ccnx/sync-scheduler.h
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@
 
 #include "sync-logic-event-container.h"
 
+#define TIME_SECONDS(number) boost::posix_time::seconds (number)
+typedef boost::posix_time::time_duration TimeDuration;
+
 namespace Sync {
 
 /**
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@
    * @param label Label for the event
    */
   void
-  schedule (const boost::posix_time::time_duration &reltime, Event event, uint32_t label); 
+  schedule (const TimeDuration &reltime, Event event, uint32_t label); 
 
   /**
    * @brief Cancel all events for the label