Why time feels like it’s moving faster as you age

Individuals, as adults often perceive that time is passing rapidly than it did during their younger years. Many adults find themselves wondering why childhood summers felt endless, while years in adulthood seem to fly by in the blink of an eye. In a study conducted by Ruth Ogden, more than 75% of individuals have reported that Christmas seems to have arrived earlier and this only accelerates every passing year. By understanding and addressing the factors influencing our perception of time, we can enrich our lives and combat the sensation that time is slipping away.

During the childhood days, one often remembers time passing by quite vividly than in their later years. This phenomenon might be due to varying psychological and experiential factors. Our perception of time is relatively proportional to the number of years we have lived. For a 5-year-old child, their last year accounts for 20% of the whole lifespan they have lived till the present day, but for a 50-year-old adult, a similar period i.e., the last past year attributes to only 2% of their life which is a much shorter span in comparison to the child.

This proportional shrinking creates an illusion in adults where they believe that it speeds up as they age year by year. Thus, the adolescence and childhood period feels longer than the adulthood phase as the same period takes up a larger percentage of the total life experienced by an individual. Thus, time feels condensed by middle age and later years where each year represents a smaller fraction of the total life experienced by an individual.

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Moreover, former years of an individual’s life is filled with new and uncertain experiences which draws more attention leading to stronger recollections of these years thereby slowing down time. During childhood and adolescence period, these unique moments stand out, creating the feeling that those years were rich and lengthy as an individual encounters a lot of their ‘firsts” like the first time they went to school or their first job interview or their first relationship. In adolescence, external stimuli are encoded with much attention to detail as adolescents are sensitive to their sensory environment and their cognitive structures are open to exploration of new events.

As years pass by and individuals age, they have a strict regime or a routine that they abide by daily. This leads to more familiar experiences and repetitive schedules in comparison to occurrences of novel episodes. This repetition of activities where days blend together due to routine events reduces the “newness” of experiences and elicits fewer distinctive memories, thereby creating the perception that time has passed quickly. 

The cognitive processing speed slows down as individuals age with time according to neurological studies. Younger brains are more efficient in processing memories where attention to detail is quite significant thus creating moment-to-moment awareness. Whereas in adults, the processing rate slows down leading to the encoding of fewer sensory details, thus time seems to have moved faster as fewer details are recalled. Time-estimation hypothesis depicts that the amount of perceived or real changes processed by our brains portrays the amount of time that has passed by. Thus, during adulthood, due to routinized activities and fewer changes in one’s life, our cognitive structures assume that it has passed quickly.

Additionally, our perception of it is closely associated with the encoding and retrieval of memories. During the former years of our lives, we tend to encode vivid and impactful memories, leading to the time passed by looking full and long. As we age, there is a reduction in the encoding of new memories and individuals ponder and reminisce their memories which have significantly impacted their lives rather than everyday occurrences. The holiday paradox is in congruence with this theory where time passes slowly when novel memories are experienced in a vacation, but one only recollects a few highlights of their holiday, thus condensing the memories and making one feel the time passed by quickly.

As adults, we are future-oriented and goal-focused. This mindset can cause us to overlook minute events in between, creating an illusion that time is slipping by quickly. By focusing on achieving milestones and accomplishing goals, where an individual is fixated on the next big event, we spend little time in the present moment, which further compresses the time perceived by us in the long run.

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The present world operates at an increasingly rapid pace, thus amplifying our sense of time rushing by. Smartphones, social media, and email create a constant stream of information, making it harder to slow down by being connected 24/7. The expectation to multitask and “keep up” leaves little room for reflection, which elongates our sense of time due to the fast-paced lifestyles which are adopted by individuals. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “time famine” of modern life where the individual perceives that time is passing by rapidly.

How to resist this perception of time?

• Mindfulness activities: These tend to stretch a period of time experienced by adults as one reflects upon their actions and thoughts. By focusing on the present moment through mindfulness or meditation and being fully immersed in an activity helps one savor time and experience it more deeply. Moreover, regularly reflecting on and recording daily events can anchor memories and create a more expansive sense of time.
• Novel experiences: Engaging in new activities and pursuing childhood hobbies stimulates the brain and thus the cognitive structures to capture these vivid and impactful memories. One can introduce small changes into their everyday life like taking a different route to work, cooking a new recipe, or switching up one’s schedule to break from the routinized activities.
• Engaging in meaningful conversations: Deep and meaningful connections often create vivid memories that counteract the feeling of fleeting time. Thus, reducing digital distractions and engaging in conversations slows down one’s pace of life and aids in feeling more in control of the time.

Although adulthood typically involves fewer novel experiences compared to the earlier years of life, many individuals report finding greater satisfaction during this stage than in adolescence. The later years of life often bring stability and familiarity, which can be comforting. While the experiences of adulthood may be less intense or exciting compared to the vivid and unpredictable events of childhood, the consistency and routines that adulthood offers can significantly reduce stress.

This sense of stability arises from the predictability of daily life, which contrasts with the uncertainty and emotional turbulence often associated with youth. In adulthood, individuals may prioritize a balanced lifestyle, focusing on long-term goals, relationships, and personal growth, which contributes to their overall sense of fulfillment. The absence of constant novelty doesn’t necessarily equate to monotony but rather allows for a deeper appreciation of life’s steadier rhythm, fostering mental peace and emotional resilience.