This May Be Why Time Speeds Up As We Get Older
Have you ever had a conversation with someone in which you both discuss how quickly a certain month or a year has gone by? When we're kids, we often feel this way about summer breaks, feeling like they passed us by too quickly for us to actually enjoy anything.
It's a society-wide sensation, especially as we get older, with each new year seeming to blow by even faster than the last. Is there a reason for this? Is there a set science behind why time speeds up as we age, or is it just a feeling we all seem to share?
Also, the older we get, sometimes it can be hard to shake beliefs and feelings we've held onto for years. Even if these beliefs limit us or keep us from reaching our true potential, they become immensely difficult to let go of.
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In The Blink Of An Eye
Surely you've felt it. The older we get, the faster time seems to pass. Our 40s blow by faster than our 30s, which pass faster than our 20s, which pass faster than our teenage years, so on and so forth. You blink and a month, even a year, has gone by, all without feeling like you've done much at all to make use of or cherish that time.
First, here's a needed reminder that not every moment needs to be maximized and filled with things to do. You're allowed to spend as long as you want just relaxing, just being. That's what living is all about.
Times Are Changing
However, to the prior point, there does appear to be actual science behind it. Well, scientific theories, at least. Time and our perception of it can change and shift as things happen around us. Rather recently, a 2020 study shared that 80% of people reported that their perception of time shifted during the pandemic, namely the earliest stages when everyone was staying home.
So, it's possible for the way we experience time passing to change, but is that what's happening as we get older?
As Time Goes By
Experts say yes. A widely believed theory among psychologists suggests that, as we age, our subjective sense of time quickens. As for why, some believe it's purely sociological, while others think it has to do with the way our brains process neural signals in our later years.
This is because we process visual information slower the older we get. With less to process at any given moment, time appears to pass us by faster and faster as we're actively taking in less of the world around us.
Little Victories
That's not the only theory for why years seem to race by in our older years. Another common belief as to why this happens is that our lives simply become more monotonous the later in life we get.
Our first few decades are full of frequent milestones. Our first day of school, awards in extracurriculars, our first kiss, graduating various grade levels, our first car, our first relationship, going to prom, going off to college, our first job post-graduation, all of these and more count as milestone experiences in the maps of our lives.
On Autopilot
As we age, those experiences become few and far between. We run out of 'firsts' that are typically celebrated. There's still holidays, birthdays, and maybe some personal firsts like picking up a new hobby, but these aren't considered milestones like the list from earlier.
Since we're experiencing less and less, time tends to blend together and rush by. Repetitive daily routines also aid in this, as waking up knowing what to expect every day means we don't have to put much thought into our actions, and thus engage less with the time that passes.
Write It Down
The idea of actively losing time may sound scary, but it appears to just be a common factor of getting older. If the thought still spooks you and you want to do something to better hang onto the time you have, there are a few methods that will help you slow down and take in the moment.
One method is to keep a journal. By recording your days, even the days where nothing much happens, you're better able to recall all that you did get up to. It lets you recall your feelings, your experiences, and gives you something physical you can look back on whenever you please. It forces you to pause and really think about what happened each day or even each week, but a daily journal could sound too intimidating for some.
Invite Something New In
Another way to keep things fresh and prevent the speeding up of time is to commit to doing something either new or different every day.
There's comfort in routine, but for many, having a steady, unchanging routine is a surefire way to falling into a rut. This only further accelerates that feeling of time rushing past us.
To combat this, all you need to do is mix things up a little. Take a new route to work, go for a walk in a park you've never been to, try a different morning beverage, or stop in a local shop you noticed for the first time. Introducing little changes every day makes each day stand out in its own unique way, and thus makes it special.
Pause, Just For A Moment
Lastly, there's taking your time back. In today's modern society, we're so used to non-stop movement, always jumping to the next thing as we don't want to be seen as lazy or unproductive. It's time to fight that voice in your head telling you to run along and stop to smell the flowers for a change.
Make the conscious choice to linger. Force yourself to slow down and really take in the moment, whatever that moment may be. Maybe you're out on a nature trail or maybe you're in line at the grocery store. When the urge strikes or you're feeling a little pressured, a little panicked, take a moment to just breathe.
It's Your Time
You're allowed to feel how you want about this phenomenon. Maybe you're content with how quickly time passes each year, or maybe you're someone who's desperate for it to slow down again. Your mileage may vary, just know that you're far from alone in feeling it, and there are teams out there still hoping to figure out why it happens at all.
No matter the cause, it's your time to use how you want. Whether that's filling every moment with action and excitement or allowing yourself to take things slow, there's no wrong way to be living.
The older we get, the less patience we tend to have for nonsense, for time wasters, and for fruitless endeavors. While these unsavory types can be hard to avoid, it can be easier to instead draw that which you do want into your life using powerful manifestation techniques.
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