diff --git a/mixnode/src/config/mod.rs b/mixnode/src/config/mod.rs
index 16974def01..69e0978975 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::net::{IpAddr, SocketAddr};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::str::FromStr;
+use std::time;
 
 pub mod persistance;
 mod template;
@@ -12,6 +13,11 @@ mod template;
 // 'MIXNODE'
 const DEFAULT_LISTENING_PORT: u16 = 1789;
 
+// 'DEBUG'
+// where applicable, the below are defined in milliseconds
+const DEFAULT_PRESENCE_SENDING_DELAY: u64 = 3000;
+const DEFAULT_METRICS_SENDING_DELAY: u64 = 3000;
+
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Deserialize, PartialEq, Serialize)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct Config {
@@ -179,11 +185,16 @@ impl Config {
         self.debug.presence_directory_server.clone()
     }
 
+    pub fn get_presence_sending_delay(&self) -> time::Duration {
+        time::Duration::from_millis(self.debug.presence_sending_delay)
+    }
 
     pub fn get_metrics_directory_server(&self) -> String {
         self.debug.metrics_directory_server.clone()
     }
 
+    pub fn get_metrics_sending_delay(&self) -> time::Duration {
+        time::Duration::from_millis(self.debug.metrics_sending_delay)
     }
 
     pub fn get_layer(&self) -> u64 {
@@ -274,10 +285,16 @@ pub struct Debug {
     /// Directory server to which the server will be reporting their presence data.
     presence_directory_server: String,
 
+    /// Delay between each subsequent presence data being sent.
+    presence_sending_delay: u64,
 
     /// Directory server to which the server will be reporting their metrics data.
     metrics_directory_server: String,
 
+    /// Delay between each subsequent metrics data being sent.
+    metrics_sending_delay: u64,
+}
+
 impl Debug {
     fn default_directory_server() -> String {
         #[cfg(feature = "qa")]
@@ -288,11 +305,15 @@ impl Debug {
         "https://directory.nymtech.net".to_string()
     }
 }
+
 impl Default for Debug {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Debug {
             presence_directory_server: Self::default_directory_server(),
+            presence_sending_delay: DEFAULT_PRESENCE_SENDING_DELAY,
             metrics_directory_server: Self::default_directory_server(),
+            metrics_sending_delay: DEFAULT_METRICS_SENDING_DELAY,
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs b/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
index 60a7c5e4f5..5bd392e3bb 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ impl MixNode {
             self.config.get_announce_address(),
             self.sphinx_keypair.public_key().to_base58_string(),
             self.config.get_layer(),
+            self.config.get_presence_sending_delay(),
         );
         rt.spawn({
             let presence_notifier = presence::Notifier::new(notifier_config);
@@ -272,6 +273,7 @@ impl MixNode {
             metrics,
             directory_cfg,
             self.sphinx_keypair.public_key().to_base58_string(),
+            self.config.get_metrics_sending_delay(),
         ));
 
         // Spawn the root task
diff --git a/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs b/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs
index 55d1c10df2..bdcdc3ad70 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs
@@ -3,13 +3,12 @@ use directory_client::presence::mixnodes::MixNodePresence;
 use directory_client::requests::presence_mixnodes_post::PresenceMixNodesPoster;
 use directory_client::DirectoryClient;
 use log::{debug, error};
-use std::time;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 pub struct Notifier {
     pub net_client: directory_client::Client,
     presence: MixNodePresence,
-    sending_delay: time::Duration,
+    sending_delay: Duration,
 }
 
 pub struct NotifierConfig {
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ pub struct NotifierConfig {
     announce_host: String,
     pub_key_string: String,
     layer: u64,
-    sending_delay: time::Duration,
+    sending_delay: Duration,
 }
 
 impl NotifierConfig {
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ impl NotifierConfig {
         announce_host: String,
         pub_key_string: String,
         layer: u64,
-        sending_delay: time::Duration,
+        sending_delay: Duration,
     ) -> Self {
         NotifierConfig {
             directory_server,
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ impl Notifier {
     pub async fn run(self) {
         loop {
             self.notify();
-            tokio::time::delay_for(self.sending_delay).await;
+            tokio::delay_for(self.sending_delay).await;
         }
     }
 }