Q: I cannot believe it is 2024 already! Why do the years feel like they are moving faster as I age?
A: It is quite normal to feel like time is speeding up as we get older. There are many reasons for this feeling. We can better understand why this happens and how to help ourselves “slow down” time in the process.
One theory is that it has to do with the amount of time we are alive. For a 5-year-old, one year makes up 20 percent of their entire life. Therefore, it feels much longer to them than it will feel to a 50-year-old. For that 50-year-old, one year only makes up 2 percent of their life, so subjectively, that one year feels shorter and like it went by faster.
Another theory on why time seems to speed up as we age has to do with how our brains process information. The younger brain receives more images in a day compared to someone older, making the day seem fuller and consequently, longer. This difference in sensory input changes the way that time is perceived.
One other possible theory is related to the expression, “time flies when you’re having fun.” A day packed with exciting and interesting events will appear to move faster than a boring day with nothing to do. As we get older and perhaps retire from our day-to-day job, the days may feel longer since they may not be filled with things to keep us engaged and busy. Each day itself may feel like it is moving more slowly, but over time, a series of uneventful days, weeks and months may cause us to look back and wonder where the time went because we have fewer meaningful events or memories to mark the time.
Whatever the reason for it, how we perceive time can affect our mood. The sense that time is going quickly can lead to feelings of anxiety, while the ability to be in the moment and feel like time is slowing down can prove to have a relaxing effect.
One suggestion on how to help time slow down is to try experiencing the day like a child would. Young children are usually very present and live in the moment. They are not often distracted by worries or tasks they need to accomplish. Instead, they experience each moment on its own.
Try going through your day with this perspective and imagine you will want to share with someone at the end of the day everything that happened. It can help us focus our mind to pay more attention to the present moment.
Children often have new experiences each day. While enjoying the new experience may rush by, the lasting memory it creates will give a sense of time slowing down. You can use this to your advantage by continuing to find new experiences. Open yourself to trying something new, engaging in new activities, and learning new things.
The key to making the most of your time is to slow down, be present, savor the moments and get the most from each day. It also means saying no to things that you do not want to do. Be protective of your time and set boundaries that allow you to spend your time the way you want to.
At the end of each day, allow yourself time to reflect and review the day and all that it offered. This practice is helpful in several ways. It provides a review, allows for adjustment, and captures your day into lasting memories.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
