In this newsletter, I want to explore human perception of time. Based on my observations, I also have some suggestions on how to spend time in ways that make life feel longer.
I believe we perceive time both in the moment and when we reflect on our past. In the moment, time seems to fly by when you’re doing things you enjoy and drags when you’re bored or doing something like waiting in line. But when we look back after some time has passed, this perception seems to reverse. A day filled with activities—like going on a hike, grabbing lunch with friends, hitting the beach, and ending with a home-cooked meal—feels much longer in retrospect than a day spent sitting at home watching Netflix. There’s nothing wrong with having relaxing days like that, but I do find that when I reflect on those kind of days, they seem to pass quickly because I didn’t do much.
This idea extends to larger time frames like years or even decades. Maybe some of you can relate, but during COVID, I felt like time wasn’t moving quickly because there wasn’t much to do. Yet, when I look back, that period feels like it flew by. In contrast, in 2022, I started a new job and went on more trips with family and friends as travel restrictions were lifted. While the trips always felt too short in the moment, when I reflect on the last few years, I feel like I packed in more experiences and have more memories to hold on to.
Based on these observations, I think the key to slowing down time is to make as many memories as possible. While it might feel like time is speeding by in the moment, when you look back, those memories will make it feel like time has stretched out.
This edition is a little shorter than usual, but I hope you find it interesting. As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Feel free to reach out on social media or email ([email protected]).