Habitat loss and fragmentation occur over time. Despite this truism, understanding the effects of habitat fragmentation has, in recent years, predominantly focused on interpreting snapshots of current landscape configuration, effectively focusing on spatial patterns rather than the process of change over time. This recent emphasis on current patterns is haunted by implicit assumptions regarding changes over time, thereby obstructing ecological understanding and the ability to provide clear and actionable guidance for conservation. We identify many issues that emerge from focusing solely on current landscape patterns and discuss the implications of shifting from the current paradigm to a time-focused, process-based paradigm for interpreting the effects of fragmentation, including its relevance for conservation policy and practice.