You’re casually browsing online when you stumble upon a surprising fact that makes you double-take. After calculating and recalculating, you’re stunned by how much time has passed since a significant event. This realization can leave you feeling disoriented as if time itself is accelerating.
Why does time seem to fly by as we age, and what can we do to slow it down? Here’s a look at several theories explaining this phenomenon and some strategies to manage our perception of time.
Why Time Feels Faster as We Age
Time Perception Varies by Age
The saying “time flies when you're having fun” captures how our perception of time changes depending on our experiences. Time seems to drag during tedious tasks and speed up during enjoyable moments, though the passage of time remains constant. This subjective experience also shifts with age. Time appears to move slowly as children, but as adults, it seems to pass more quickly. The disruption of routines during the pandemic further altered our sense of time, with varying experiences reported globally—some felt time dragged, while others thought it flew by.
A 2023 study from Hungary published in Nature Scientific Reports investigated how different age groups perceive time. Researchers showed participants of various ages two videos of equal length—one eventful and one dull. Younger children found the eventful video longer, while older children and adults perceived the uneventful one as longer. The study also found that younger children use vertical gestures to describe time, indicating a sense of volume or magnitude, while older children and adults use horizontal gestures, reflecting a linear perception of time.
Neural Processing and Time Perception
Professor Adrian Bejan has proposed a theory about how our brain processes information. As we age, our neural networks become more complex and process visual information more slowly. This slower processing rate means we create fewer mental images per second than our younger years, making time seem to pass faster.
Bejan explains that our memories of longer, seemingly more eventful days from our youth are due to the rapid processing of information. As we age, processing the same amount of information takes longer, making time seem to pass faster.
Time-to-Life Ratios
Another theory focuses on how we perceive time relative to our age. For a 5-year-old, a year represents 20% of their life, making it feel much longer compared to a 50-year-old, for whom a year is only 0.2%. Additionally, a young child experiences rapid growth and change, making each year packed with new experiences. In contrast, an adult’s life may feel more stable, with fewer dramatic changes from year to year. This difference in experience contributes to the sensation that time speeds up as we age.
Psychology professor Cindy Lustig highlights that our perception of time is influenced by whether we are experiencing it at the moment or reflecting on it later. Being present and mindful can help counteract the feeling of time rushing by.
Strategies to Slow Down Time Perception
Mindfulness and Present-Moment Awareness
Focusing on the present moment can effectively combat the sensation of time speeding up. Paying attention to your physical sensations—like your heartbeat and breathing—can enhance your awareness of time. A study by Cornell University professor Adam Anderson found that our perception of time is linked to the duration of our heartbeats. By practicing mindfulness and focused breathing, you can potentially slow down your perception of time. Anderson suggests timing yourself while focusing on your breath to understand better how your perception of time relates to your physical sensations.
Engage Fully in Experiences
Actively engaging in your surroundings and appreciating life’s details can help slow down your perception of time. By observing and mentally recording the small wonders around you, you can make time feel more meaningful. Children often see the world with a sense of wonder and curiosity, and by adopting a similar mindset, you can enrich your experience of time.
Ultimately, by being mindful and present, you can cultivate a richer, more immersive experience of time, helping to slow down the feeling of time rushing by.