Remove the cardboard box and unwrap cream cheese from the foil packaging.

Place on a microwave safe plate.

Microwave for 10 seconds intervals at a time on high heat on your microwave safe plate. After each interval, flip over the cream cheese so both sides are heated evenly. For me, this takes about three 10-second intervals, for a total of 30 seconds.

Repeat the intervals as many times until the cream cheese is at the desired softness. The microwave total time can vary depending on your microwave.

Remove cream cheese from the cardboard packaging and unwrap it from the foil packaging.

Place cream cheese on a plate.

Use a sharp knife and cut the cream cheese into cubes. You can also leave it whole, but it will take longer to soften.

To speed things up, place near a sunny window or warm spot in your house.

Remove cream cheese out of the cardboard packaging but leave it in the foil wrapping.

Place the block of cream cheese, still wrapped, into a medium bowl of very warm water.

Allow to sit in the warm water for 10-15 minutes.

Flip the package over every few minutes so both sides soften evenly. If the water becomes too cold in your bowl, you can always replace again with warm water and continue to let the cream cheese soften in the bowl of water.

Remove cream cheese out of the cardboard packaging but leave it in the foil wrapping.

Use your hands and squish the cream cheese until softened.