Have you ever noticed how some moments seem very long, while others pass very quickly? Why does time go so slowly when we're waiting for something, but seem to fly by when we're enjoying ourselves or really focused on a task? The way we experience time is a big mystery that many smart people have thought about for a long time. Our feelings about time don't just come from clocks ticking. Instead, they come from how our brain works, and this can be different for everyone and in different situations. In this note, we are going to talk about why time feels different depending on what we're doing and how we're feeling. We'll look at why our brain sees time in its own special way, and we'll share some interesting facts about how our minds understand the passing of time. This will help us see the everyday moments of our lives in a new light.

Here are some key reasons why our perception of time can vary: These factors interact in complex ways, making our perception of time highly subjective and variable depending on the circumstances. The study of time perception is an ongoing area of research in psychology and neuroscience, aiming to understand the intricate mechanisms behind this fascinating aspect of human experience.

• Attention and Memory Processing: When we are deeply focused on a task or engaged in something that requires significant cognitive resources, our perception of time tends to compress; time seems to pass more quickly because our brain is occupied with processing information. Conversely, when we are bored or waiting for something, we pay more attention to the passage of time, making it seem slower.
• When Time Goes Slowly:
• When we're bored or waiting for something without much to keep us busy.
• When we're not engaged in our activities and pay more attention to the passing of time.
• When Time Flies:
• When we're deeply focused on a task or involved in something that needs a lot of thought.
• When our brain is fully occupied with processing information, making us less aware of how much time is passing.
• Novelty and Routine: Experiencing new events or environments can make time feel like it's passing more slowly in the moment because our brain is processing a lot of new information. However, in retrospect, these periods may seem to have gone by quickly. Routine or familiar situations, on the other hand, may have the opposite effect, with time seeming to pass quickly in the moment but in retrospect appearing slow because fewer memorable events are encoded into memory.
• When Time Goes Slowly:
• During new experiences or in new places, because our brain is busy taking in and processing all the new information.
• However, when we look back at these times later, they seem to have passed quickly because the experiences were engaging and filled with new memories.
• When Time Flies:
• In routine or familiar situations, time seems to go by fast because we're used to the activities and not much stands out.
• But, looking back on these periods, they might seem long and drawn out because not many distinct or new memories were made.
• Emotional State: How we feel can change how fast or slow time seems to go. When we are experiencing strong emotions, like fear or excitement, time can feel like it's moving slower. This is because our brain is very active, paying close attention to what's happening. However, when we're excited or enjoying something, even though our brain is very active, time might seem to fly because we're not focusing on the passage of time. On the other hand, during moments of sadness or when we're feeling relaxed and not doing much, time can seem to drag because we're more aware of how slowly it's passing.
• When Time Goes Slowly:
• When we're scared or very sad, because our brain is highly alert and we're very aware of our surroundings and feelings, making each moment seem longer.
• Also, when we're relaxed or not doing much, time drags because we're more conscious of each passing second without distractions.
• When Time Flies:
• During moments of excitement or when we're really enjoying ourselves, because even though our brain is active, we're not paying attention to time. We're too caught up in the fun or excitement, so hours can pass like minutes.
• Age: Perception of time tends to change with age. For children, time often feels like it passes slowly, possibly because they are experiencing many things for the first time and their brains are processing a lot of new information. As people age, they often feel like time accelerates, possibly because they have fewer new experiences or because each unit of time represents a smaller fraction of their life.
• When Time Goes Slowly:
• In childhood, because kids are constantly experiencing new things. Their brains are busy learning and absorbing information, which makes days seem long and full.
• When Time Flies:
• As we get older, partly because we have fewer new experiences that stand out. Since we're not learning and processing as much new information daily, time seems to pass more quickly.
• Also, each year becomes a smaller percentage of our total life as we age, making it feel like time is speeding up.
• Biological and Neurological Factors: Our internal biological clocks, including circadian rhythms, also influence our perception of time. Furthermore, specific areas of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, are involved in processing time and can affect how we perceive duration.
• When Time Goes Slowly:
• Disruption in Circadian Rhythms: Our body has a natural clock that tells us when to sleep, wake up, and eat, known as the circadian rhythm. When this rhythm is off, such as from jet lag or an irregular sleep schedule, our perception of time can be affected, making time seem to drag.
• Changes in Brain Activity: If there's unusual activity in the parts of the brain that track time, like the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, time might seem to pass more slowly. This can happen in situations where we're not engaged or our mind isn't stimulated.
• When Time Flies:
• Regular Circadian Rhythms: When our internal clock is working well, and we have a regular routine, time can seem to pass quickly because we are in a flow or rhythm, moving from one task to another smoothly.
• Engaged Brain Activity: When the brain is fully engaged, whether through interesting activities, learning new things, or being in a state of 'flow' during enjoyable tasks, the areas like the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia efficiently process time without us being acutely aware of its passage, making time feel like it's flying by.
• Cultural and Social Influences: Cultural background and social environment can also shape how we perceive and value time, influencing our subjective experience of its passage.
• When Time Goes Slowly:
• In cultures or environments that emphasize leisure, mindfulness, or a strong presence in the moment. When people are encouraged to savor experiences and live at a slower pace, time can seem to stretch.
• When Time Flies:
• In fast-paced societies where there is a high value on productivity, efficiency, and multitasking. In these environments, people are often focused on future goals or the next task, leading to a sensation that time is slipping away quickly.

Reference

• Time and the Brain: How Subjective Time Relates to Neural Time - Journal Of Neuroscience (2005)
• Time Perception Mechanisms at Central Nervous System - NIH (2016)
• How the Brain Creates the Experience of Time - Neuroscience (2020)

YouTube

• Why Your Perception of Time Can Change - Seeker (2016)
• Why Life Seems to Speed Up as We Age - Veritasium (2016)
• Why does time move more quickly as we age? | Adrian Bejan | TEDxMidAtlantic - TEDx Talks (Feb 2021)
• The Real Reason Time Seems To Move Faster As You Age - Grunge (2022)
• Why TIME seems to move FASTER as you age: the relationship between perception and cognition - PsycHacks (2023)