I think of 1000ms being a second and then kind of use that as a reference in my mind for the larger times. I still have a trough time with the short delays but I have just been playing it a bunch and not spending too much time on an answer and I'm starting to get a feel for the smaller numbers where things are more phase than they are transient. Also just playing with delay plugins to get a better sense of it.

I'm sure others have great ways of doing this and I would be interested to see what they say!

@David Robinson thank you man. this is something i need to do as well. more experience brings better understanding. thanks for the insight !!! happy listening !!!