Q. Next week is my 84th birthday. When did I get so old? Every time I turn around, it's Friday. Time seems to go by so quickly the older I get. Is there a reason for that? Thank you. DL
Many would agree with you. We often hear people ask, “Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday.”
Can you remember sitting through a boring lecture? Five minutes could have felt like an hour. Or how a few boring sermon? That hour could have felt like an eternity. Compare that sense of time to a celebration. Time flies once you're having fun, working on something you like, and having recent experiences.
We know that point doesn’t pass more slowly, but that it’s our perception of it. This is just not recent concept. The psychologist William James wrote concerning the phenomenon Perception of time in his Principles of Psychology in 1890.
Here are some theories that influence our perception of time:
Theory No. 1: The years are relatively shorter. As we become older, every year takes up a smaller portion of our time. For a 10-year-old, this birthday represents 1/10 of life, which is an enormous chunk. For an 80-year-old, Cindy Lustig, a psychology professor on the University of Michigan, said the Huffington Postthis birthday is 1/80 of life, so a smaller part, which contributes to the sensation that it has passed quickly. Each yr feels shorter in comparison with the whole time we now have lived and due to this fact seems to pass more quickly.
Theory No. 2: Theory of the First. Bonce we are young, Diana Raab wrote in an article in Psychology Todaywe experience many “firsts”. It may very well be our first kiss, our past love, our first automobile or our first day in school. It may very well be learning to swim or falling off our bike. We listen to the main points of our unique and unforgettable experiences. The more details we will remember, the higher we remember them. As we become older, we experience similar experiences over and yet again, and time seems to pass more quickly.
Theory #3: Brain function. This helps explain the idea of the primary. Our brains cluster time when days or perhaps weeks are similar. For an 80-year-old who could also be doing the identical or similar things every single day, time blurs within the mind, making it feel prefer it passed quickly. What seems recent and exciting in a single day makes a day or month seem different, slowing down our sense of time. (Note: Many 80-year-olds also experience recent and familiar experiences every day.)
Theory No. 3a: More about brain function. Adrian Bejan, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke University, has a theory related to neuronal signal processing. With age, he notices the The speed at which we process visual information slows down, contributing to the sensation that point is passing faster. In other words, “time isn't passing faster, we're just passing slower, cognitively speaking,” as a 2024 Huffington Post article put it.
So how will you live a life where time passes more slowly?
- Fill your time with recent experiences. It is one option to counteract routine. A research study published within the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that the perception of time is shorter during routine activities. So tackle challenges, learn recent skills and ask questions. break out of the norm.
- Make meaningful progress. Time passes quickly once we should not doing anything. Increasing productivity and making progress on projects and goals slows down the perception of time and increases motivation.
- Practice mindfulness. This means specializing in the current moment and being aware of what you might be doing and where you might be. It's about taking note of the main points of an experience, using your whole senses. And make sure to take just a few deep breaths.
- Go out into nature. Taking time to look at the trees and clouds within the sky, listening to the birds, and watching the dolphins and waves within the ocean will magically decelerate time and have a relaxing effect. writes Raab in “Psychology Today.”
- Take time to think. Consider keeping a journal. This may very well be memories out of your youth, a gratitude list, or events from a vacation or simply a day. You may remember details of experiences and share them with others through conversations, photos, or writing.
Yes, as we become older, time seems to pass quickly. But that may change if we fill our lives with recent activities, learn something recent, reflect, enjoy nature and do something that makes us feel useful and productive. Then we won’t just undergo life, but enjoy our moments, days and months with satisfaction and joy.
Thank you, DL, completely satisfied birthday and thanks on your good query. Time is our gift. Let us use it well. And allow us to all make kindness the norm.
Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on aging and recent retirement issues with academic, corporate, and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen along with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.comVisit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity
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