Last week, someone told me they were afraid of flying and mentioned their last foreign holiday was in 1994. I responded, “Imagine, it’s been twenty years since your last flight.”
I stood corrected. 1994 is not twenty years ago!
My niece turned 18 on 25th May 2024 — happy birthday, Niamh!
But honestly, it feels like she was born about nine years ago. My maths is fine… it’s just my concept of time that’s shocking!
As we age, we often become less aware of the passage of time. One reason may be that our perception of time is related to the proportion of our life a given period represents. For example, one year in a 10-year-old’s life is 10%, but only 2% of a 50-year-old’s life. So each year feels shorter because it’s a smaller proportion of our total life experience.
There are other reasons why life seems to speed up with age. When we’re younger, we encounter more novel experiences, and these are more deeply encoded in memory. As we get older, days often become more routine – we wake, eat, go about our day, sleep – and when days blend together without variation, they create fewer distinct memories. That can leave us with the sensation that time has flown.
Even brain chemistry plays a role. For example, our dopamine system, which is involved in how we perceive time, changes as we age.
1. Focus Your Attention
Avoiding multitasking. Being mindful of the present moment helps us feel more engaged with each activity. The more engaged we are, the richer and more memorable the moment becomes.
2. Try Meditation
Practising meditation can increase awareness of the present and reduce the feeling that life is rushing by. Being fully immersed in now – rather than the next thing – helps us feel like time is moving at a more natural pace.
3. Seek Out New Experiences
Novelty is powerful. When we learn new skills, try new activities, travel, or change our routine, we create new memory “markers”. These help time feel fuller and more expansive in hindsight.
4. Break the Routine
Changing your usual route to work, trying a new recipe, or walking a different path can prevent your days from blurring together. These small tweaks bring freshness to everyday life.
5. Keep a Journal or Reflection Log
Writing about your day, even briefly, helps solidify the events and make the passage of time feel more grounded. Positive reflection can also enhance mood and meaning.
6. Move Your Body in New Ways
Physical activity — especially learning new movements or exercising in new environments — boosts both mood and memory. Dance, swimming, yoga, or simply walking a different route can make a big difference.
We can’t stop time, but we can make the most of it. By being intentional, curious and present, we can help time feel richer, more spacious and more memorable.
Caroline Crotty
www.carolinecrotty.ie
Caroline Crotty Counselling & Psychotherapy Limited - 636306 - Suite 7, Block A, South Terrace Medical Centre, Infirmary Road, Cork T12 WF40
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