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Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

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Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#131

Post by bigwheeler »

darkwater wrote: post #112
djmips wrote: post #6

Another hunch that I have is that as you get older you tend to have less unique experiences. I believe our brains compress the information and an entire day that was much like the previous day can just feel like it sped by quickly. Alternatively, if you go on vacation or change your routine then time will slow down as you process a lot of new information.

It's totally unscientific but in my opinion it's like when you are hiking a path you never did and when you reach your destination, you hike back. Going back always feels faster even if the pace is exactly the same, but you already know the path, you remember some rock, or that view, or those oaks. And your brain works less. We have routines when we are small children just like we have when we are adults so it might…

I have the opposite experience when hiking- The way back usually feels like it takes forever. I think it’s because I’m seeing things I’ve already seen, so it’s not as exciting as it was when I saw it the first time on the way in. Same thing for roadtrips too, if I take the same route both ways.

Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#132

Post by Olumde »

I think its because we are busier.

Let's see. I am a dad to two kids, a husband, with a day job as a software engineer, but working on my side project when the wife and kids have gone to bed. (yes I'm on HN now but I'm going to fire up gedit soon -- trust me.) I don't even know what free time means any more.

Back when I was a seven years old I had not a care in the world, was often bored. Time passed slooowly. I was sure my eighth birthday would never arrive. I turned 50 in June.

Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#133

Post by 972811 »

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #87

I have an alternative (although unproven) theory. I have been practicing meditation for 15 years, sometimes in batch of 100 hours. The more I practice, the more the time slows down. Not just while meditating, but after the fact as well. Although it fluctuates and I'm not back to my kid self, it feels that I have tremendously more time now than a few years ago. I suspect that it's tied to how much present you manage t…

I agree with this completely. As I get older, a much more significant amount of my time is spent on the future. Planning for social events, planning when to do housework or chores, planning projects for work. I think you also do more long-term planning at work as you get older. When I was 22, three months seemed like a long time for a project and a long way away for events. Now I know a quarter (12 weeks) is not much time at all, and getting event invitations for a year in advance seems normal, and time slips by in between.

To your point, meditation helps me quite a bit (along with long cardio and limiting media consumption)

Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#134

Post by karmelapple »

xahrepap wrote: post #8

I've always assumed part of it is more relative. Meaning: When I'm 5, 10 years old seems like a lifetime away... because it is. Going from 5 to 6 is, relatively speaking, the same as going from 50 to 60. I assume my brain has so much to look back on as I'm older to compare against that 1 year just "feels" like less now. With that said, I'm sure there's a million explanations. And all of them are probably, at least so…

Big agreement here. Every minute as you age is a smaller fraction of your overall life than before.

Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#135

Post by datameta »

pbrb wrote: post #110
BiteCode_dev wrote: post #87

I have an alternative (although unproven) theory. I have been practicing meditation for 15 years, sometimes in batch of 100 hours. The more I practice, the more the time slows down. Not just while meditating, but after the fact as well. Although it fluctuates and I'm not back to my kid self, it feels that I have tremendously more time now than a few years ago. I suspect that it's tied to how much present you manage t…

Where would you start right now if you were starting to meditate with no prior experience, knowing what you know now with 15yrs of experience? I'm going to take what you recommend and run with it.

Sit for 5 minutes and try to count to 10 incrementing on the exhale. If you notice yourself thinking of something other than your body sensations like the breath or the counting, start from 1.

This was my first foray into meditation.

Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#136

Post by lathiat »

gmfawcett wrote: post #21
djmips wrote: post #6

Another hunch that I have is that as you get older you tend to have less unique experiences. I believe our brains compress the information and an entire day that was much like the previous day can just feel like it sped by quickly. Alternatively, if you go on vacation or change your routine then time will slow down as you process a lot of new information.

This is a much more compelling argument than the article's.

I've seen a different explanation. When you are 10 years old, a year of your life is 1/10th of your life. Relatively, it's a large portion. When you are 50 years old, a year of your life is a much smaller 1/50th portion of total memory, experiences, etc.

Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#137

Post by seoulmetro »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #126
pugworthy wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just pointing out a bit of inadvertent ageism. And I definitely wasn't implying they live boring lives. My spouse for example doesn't work, and in fact is quite busy with an impressive garden landscape. She doesn't always know what day it is, because it doesn't usually matter.

I think I was unintentionally ageist, sorry. I'm fifty myself, it wasn't deliberate. Also, a routine doesn't necessarily gets boring, you're right. I was thinking of a university friend of mine. He didn't work, only studied for finals, and had a very interesting life with little money. Somehow he didn't flunk.

You weren't being "ageist". It's normal to assume that old people live at home and aren't out doing many things. It's also normal to assume that 16 year olds get acne.

Please don't let someone censor you for acting rationally.

Re: Why time “speeds up” as we get older (2019)

#138

Post by mikewarot »

lsaferite wrote: post #111
cassianoleal wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

JRPGs, as well as the Civ games, are time compressors. You blink and 5 hours have passed.

Games like factorio must be 'super compressors'.

So if you grow the factory big enough, time and space take on new relative dimensions, and the Doctor shows up? Or do you become the Doctor?
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