diff --git a/frontend/src/components/dashboard/DashboardPage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/dashboard/DashboardPage.tsx
index e987940..00263cc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/dashboard/DashboardPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/dashboard/DashboardPage.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef, useCallback } from 'react';
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
-import { format, formatDistanceToNow } from 'date-fns';
+import { format } from 'date-fns';
 import { Bell, Plus, Calendar as CalIcon, ListTodo, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
 import api from '@/lib/api';
 import type { DashboardData, UpcomingResponse, WeatherData } from '@/types';
@@ -44,10 +44,16 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
   const dropdownRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const [clockNow, setClockNow] = useState(() => new Date());
 
-  // Live clock — update every minute
+  // Live clock — synced to the minute boundary
   useEffect(() => {
-    const interval = setInterval(() => setClockNow(new Date()), 60_000);
-    return () => clearInterval(interval);
+    let intervalId: ReturnType<typeof setInterval>;
+    // Wait until the next :00 second mark, then tick every 60s
+    const msUntilNextMinute = (60 - new Date().getSeconds()) * 1000 - new Date().getMilliseconds();
+    const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
+      setClockNow(new Date());
+      intervalId = setInterval(() => setClockNow(new Date()), 60_000);
+    }, msUntilNextMinute);
+    return () => { clearTimeout(timeoutId); clearInterval(intervalId); };
   }, []);
 
   // Click outside to close dropdown
@@ -167,7 +173,12 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
   }
 
   const updatedAgo = dataUpdatedAt
-    ? formatDistanceToNow(new Date(dataUpdatedAt), { addSuffix: true })
+    ? (() => {
+        const mins = Math.floor((clockNow.getTime() - dataUpdatedAt) / 60_000);
+        if (mins < 1) return 'just now';
+        if (mins === 1) return '1 min ago';
+        return `${mins} min ago`;
+      })()
     : null;
 
   return (