Now how much time you have now

10 Tips to Start Living in the Present Moment

Written by joshua becker · 179 Comments

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

One of the best, unforeseen consequences of simplifying our lives is it has allowed us to begin living our lives in the present moment.

Eliminating nonessential possessions has freed us from many of the emotions associated with past lives that were keeping us stuck. And clearing our home has allowed us the freedom to shape our lives today around our most important values.

Living in the present moment means no longer worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today.

Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today, but it also robs you of truly living. The only important moment is the present moment.

With that goal in mind, consider this list of ten tips below on how to live in the moment.

How Do You Live in the Moment?

1. Remove unneeded possessions

Minimalism forces you to live in the present. Removing items associated with past memories frees you and allows you to stop living in the past. Once the past no longer has power, you can begin to live in the moment.

2. Smile

Each day is full of endless possibilities! Start it with a smile. You are in control of your attitude every morning, keep it optimistic and expectant. Be intentional about it and you’ll find yourself doing it every day without even realizing it.

3. Fully appreciate the moments of today

Soak in as much of today as you possibly can – the sights, the sounds, the smells, the emotions, the triumph, and the sorrow. These are in our daily lives but we often forget to take them in and truly appreciate them.

4. Forgive past hurts

If you are harboring resentment towards another human being because of past hurts, choose to forgive and move on. The harm was their fault, but allowing it to impact your mood today is yours. Let go and choose to be present in the moment instead.

If you just “survive” the workweek constantly waiting for the next weekend “to get here,” you are wasting 71% of your life (5/7 days.) There are two solutions: find a new job that you actually enjoy, or find something that you appreciate about your current career.

6. Dream about the future, but work hard today

Dream big. Set goals and plans for the future. But working hard today is always the first step towards realizing your dreams tomorrow. Don’t allow dreaming about tomorrow to replace living in the moment. Dreaming about the future is only productive when combined with action taken today.

7. Don’t dwell on past accomplishments

If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven’t done much today. There is still plenty of time to build upon past successes and create more memories and achievements for future-you. In the future, you’ll be cherishing the memories of today.

8. Stop worrying

You can’t fully appreciate today if you worry too much about tomorrow. Realize that tomorrow is going to happen whether you worry about it or not. And since worry has never accomplished anything for anybody, redirect your mental energy elsewhere.

9. Think beyond old solutions to problems

Our world is changing so fast that most of yesterday’s solutions are no longer the right answers today. Don’t get locked into a “but that’s how we’ve always done it” mentality. Yesterday’s solutions are not today’s solutions and they are certainly not tomorrow’s solutions.

10. Conquer addictions

Addictions in your life hold you hostage. They keep you from living a completely free life and removes your focus from the moment. Find some help. Take the steps. And remove their influence over your life. Allow yourself to live in the moment addiction-free.

Learning how to live in the present moment is an essential ingredient in a happy life.

If you can only live one moment at a time, you might as well make it the present.

Further Reading

Joshua Becker is the WSJ Best-Selling author of The More of Less and The Minimalist Home. His new book, Things That Matter, is now available.

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Comments

Terry Withers says

Great post! Inspiring!

Terry Withers says

You might be interested in my take on staying in the moment from an improv comedy perspective:

Aman Sharma says

I love these tips! I’ve been trying to live in the present more and it’s been really helpful.

Sarita Mian says

I t was a great read especially when I myself had written about the same subject. To read your post was something that added more to my wisdom.
What I concluded was the three rules that will help one to focus on Present.
1. Future holds nothing if you do not hold anything for it.
2. Future is not a gift, the Past is not a waste and the Present is never permanent.
3. What you do with your Present, Future will do it for you.

Value what you have, work to make it more valuable and look back on it as your pride memory.

Greg P says

Fukru Umer says

How to live in present, if present is too painful and you made so many things during depression. That make you feel bad about it today.

Sarita Mian says

“The greatest of all miracles is that we need not be tomorrow what we are today, the greatest of all insights is that we cannot be tomorrow what we do not do today. That is why Today matters”

Jules says

Living in the moment sounds good, our present is forged by our past and will influence our future lives. Sometimes we need to look back to understand how we got here and to heal our present self.

asad imran says

Sun says

I have been working soo hard these last
Years
Just don’t know where it is going to get
Me

I din’t Think
There is someone
Foreseen it
xx

Stu says

How can you live in the moment, when everything is so bad still. Been in lockdown for 5 months now, see nobody, wish the days away because its so pointless. Try to keep busy but ultimately can’t concentration, and this hole of purposeless and loneliness grows by the day.

Aka says

It is true that we cannot see the end of this but still you can help yourself by reading good books, quality content online (You are here now), excercising or singing to yourself. You can try by small talks at gas station, coffee shop etc. Sometimes it is enough to wish someone a good day….Actualy if you feel like you say you do, I think this is wrong article for you…. Anyway, this will pass. Good luck.

Joyce Walden says

Joyce Walden says

❤️ great advice. Minimalism article is truth! Freedom to live your real life

Joyce Walden says

Joyce Walden says

Gives you time to find what you really want. Love others. You reap what you sow

Sarita Mian says

There are times, when your present comes up with a challenging situation that you are not prepared for and the pioneering thought that crops up in such a demanding Present is, Escape.

You turn out to be a newcomer to such a demanding present that longing for a future that can comfort you, is all that you start chasing for.

The problem is not that you are ignorant of how life is lived, what hinders you to still not live in the present, is because your mind is clenched with thoughts of how you wish life to be.

How good it was comparatively from the time now is one aspect that keeps you clung to the past and how bad it was is another that haunts you for life. But then Past was supposed to just take the learning from and not dwell in it.

And when it comes to future, The attribute “desire” to have something that you have not yet had is more powerful than the contentment of having what you desired back then.

This is what keeps you chasing the future.
No mentoring can bring a shift, until and unless you are not shaken by this misleading way of living life.No matter how great a life can turn if you understand and believe the philosophy of living in the present, you still will be captivated by the future and drawn off and on into your past.

Despite the non-existence of the past and future, you will find yourself trapped in them.

And the only reason is, Human minds fail to settle for the things they have!

Bella says

Jesh says

Joyce Walden says

Olakpa eseoghene says

Hey Bella… sorry you’re facing this at this time of your life dear… I don’t know if this would work cos I faced similar issues too— and I conquered it.
Try living with them than being afraid for them. Spend more time with them. Ask them questions tell them how you feel about there health and how much you care for them cos that is living. Wake up early and say a prayer together with them start from there and trust me wuth God helping your heart will be open more to live with them as there are then being afraid of what they will become.

Joyce Walden says

Excellent loving advice.

Odile uwitije says

Please stop doing that to yourself. Live in the moment and be present in the moment.

Joyce Walden says

There is hope. Get to know the God who loves you. We all have storms and scars, but we power through because of Jesus and eternal life. He is our hope!
Consider this please

Med Benzida says

Veronica Crosby says

WOW THIS IS AMAZING.

The Apathetical Man says

Everyone has a purpose in life. Each and every person is born into this world for a certain reason. Some people can easily find their purpose early on in their lives, while others might have to spend half of their lifetimes trying to figure out the reason why they are here. Nonetheless, regardless of time, everyone has the capacity to find meaning in life.

Glen Schmidt says

Joyce Walden says

Oh yeah! Right on! We have choices in every situation. Surround yourself with people who will make you feel good and content about yourself and know you are loved by an ever lasting God.

Q says

This was super helpful God Bless you and Thank you! I’m looking forward to the daily emails and exercises.

Gratiaen Hewa says

Thanks.I still didn’t find a solid answer to my request “How to live in the PRESENT!

tiron says

you are not alone.

Odile uwitije says

Only You can answer that.

Med Benzida says

tasha says

My husband filed for divorced because of his mistress and told me has know feelings for me anymore. It was tragic for months without my husband. My mom did her best to see us back it couldn’t work. I actually want him back he was the only man i have loved all through my life we started when we where both young. i never give up because i always believe what is mine will always be mine, i visited a site solution to a relationship problem, where i found someone talking about manuka help her marriage, It very clear to me he can also put a stop with the nonsense going on in my marriage, i pick up the contact i met on the site to see if he could help me as well. but today with the stress of the covid-19 going on am a testimony to priest manuka who restored peace back to my life. what shocked me most was My husband who hasn’t come visit in few months came home to talk about how sorry he was, He never left since that day I can never be more grateful. The buddhist Old religion priest is a very holy and powerful man, I have never seen anything like this.It is a good remedy to resolve marital problems. anyone can also be a testimony to manuka temple his contact.. lovesolutiontemple1@ gmail. com

Ebonye-Jae says

Merwin says

Very effective! and who would have figured that you do nothing to gain everything! So I will start a new daily routine by simply putting it it in “Neutral” and be prepared for whatever the present task at hand requires and positive in mentality upon my engagement. Thank you sincerely! It’s a method commonly perceived as ineffective by the simplicity in method but, it’s guaranteed 100% if you truly commit to surrendering self condemnation and initiate that mindfulness/humility moral asset combo instead!

Sherry Lucas says

Really, REALLY needed this inspiration today! Thank you!

K.V.Mahatha says

Bert says

Good article and advice.

I was consumed by genealogy research. I felt I was dwelling in the past constantly thinking about dead relatives I nver met. I found myself looking back… literally… all day long!

Stephen says

Being in the moment is an absurd concept. I suppose that if you had a monastic lifestyle where your day is planned for you so that a bell rings to wake you up, another bell for time to eat, and for hours a day blankly staring at a wall or slowly walking from one place to another then being in the now may be somewhat approached. I suppose that such a lifestyle or going on retreats are designed that way. Could you read a book in the now? All the plot, character development and so on would not exist, only the word you were reading, if that. The idea that I started this comment calling being in the now absurd would have been lost to you if you were reading this in the now and any negative reactions to that statement also… gone.
Of course one could say well when I remember something that I am remembering it now and when I write a grocery list for the future use I am doing that in the now also. Of course that means there is no thought action or observation that is not in the now.

What I am guessing people mean by being in the now is to have the focus of attention on the senses, the stream of information from the nervous system from causes outside the body or internally, not from memory or emotions. Even there I doubt this would be a better state of awareness than having the full benefit of associations of memory and emotions, sort of like watching a movie with the sound off.
Taking our lives personally, obsessive dwelling on problems that have no immediate consequence should probably be avoided if possible. Spending time watching you breathing may be some kind of answer, but so would taking a narcotic.

Sal says

Thank you! Someone who thinks like me! I always found it hard to grasp the concept of ‘living in the moment’ because as easy as it sounds, how in the moment are we talking? As you say, just simply reading a passage would have you getting to the end only to have forgotten the beginning. So are we to accustom our thinking to adapt to different situations? Ie planning for a vacation at the weekend means you have to think ahead. Simple daily tasks require planning…. Grocery shopping, meal planning etc. It is simply not possible to live in the exact moment in which we are in

Kanishka says

Living in the present doesn’t mean not thinking about the future. It means not worrying about the far away future that is uncertain.

Bimalendu Nayak says

Haseen says

Great article! I totally agree with you. Like if we want to conquer the anxiety of life we should live in the moment, live in the breath.

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Cheri Joiner says

This inspired me but depressed me too. I am in a difficult place right now and have issues with most of your points. #1. I am embracing this and requiring it of everyone in my household. #2. Ok with this as happy moments catch me off guard especially around my grandchildren. #3. Have problems with this as the past has such a hold on me. #4. I have wasted the past 14 years unable to forgive or move forward after my divorce. #4. I have no job due to a injury on the job in 2003. #5 & 6. Looking toward the future is impossible. I don’t see a future of possibilities. Can’t work, can’t enjoy anything that I used to enjoy. There is no joy and don’t see any prospects. #6. Past accomplishments are all I have. #8. Don’t really worry. I’m numb. See no future, No worries. #9. Solutions, I dream about them but there’s always an unrealistic theme where someone comes to the rescue #10. Addictions, cigarettes, pain medicine. Working on the first, debating the second.
So, you see, I’m stuck. Waiting for disability to be approved, depending on daughter for support, spend days, weeks in bed sleeping or just starring at walls, try to make myself get up to just move to a living room chair doing more of the same. Daydream about going to sleep and never waking up. Removing myself as a burden for everyone. Don’t worry, I’d never put my family through that. I do read, a lot. Posts like this which helps me focus and see more clearly what’s wrong just can’t see how to fix. Thanks for the article, it’s the first time I’ve put into words and actually written them down. Maybe a journal would be helpful. I’ve always been able to write better to express myself. Good luck in your endeavors and please keep these articles coming. They help me hold on.
Sincerely,
CJ

RhoRho says

Get rid of things that remind you of your past relationship. Let those things go by giving them away, selling them, or transforming them into something new. Renew your mind and focus on the good. Create new memories to replace the old. I truly understand your pain. Divorce appears to be more painful than death. Letting go of the past is freeing. Make every effort to turn your pain into something creative and profitable to live out your days joyful and triumphant. Try to get off those pain meds asap as this is most likely an added ingredient to your listlessness. Most of all, seek God to restore You from those hurts. ❤️.

Every «1» says

Very effective! and who would have figured that you do nothing to gain everything! So I will start a new daily routine by simply putting it it in “Neutral” and be prepared for whatever the present task at hand requires and positive in mentality upon my engagement. Thank you sincerely! It’s a method commonly perceived as ineffective by the simplicity in method but, it’s guaranteed 100% if you truly commit to surrendering self condemnation and initiate that mindfulness/humility moral asset combo instead! GODSPEED my family! I love you always♥ √π™

joe says

Wow.. Almost identical to my life!!

Pure says

Why not dwell or at least remind oneself of past accomplishments from time to time? It promotes self confidence and positivity, especially when feeling insecure and needing strength. Not understanding this one.

Mel says

I have realized that I can’t take action yesterday and I can’t take action tomorrow but I can take action today. I recommend literature about the teachings of Gautama “Buddha”. Just my opinion.

Anonymous says

Thanks so much for this post. It really helped me emotionally especially in my love life. When my bf said this I thought that was all coupled with different thoughts and advice from people even thou I sort of have a positive side towards it but just couldn’t help but to dwell more on the negative. While trying to deal with the situation I stormed on this link. Read through n saved it on my phone as a reminder every morning. Its been helpful and all I am doing now is living in the present,enjoying,loving and appreciating myself more.

Corey Devin Perich says

We live life in dreams of love
What is we are that truth above
Not what was, as it may seem
Love life here now and live the dream

M. Bond says

Noor says

To live in present is not an easy job specially for one who is living same life everyday same food everyday no friends no outing nothing new or courageous
Well bit only a hope n strong will power to change the mind n soul can bring change
It’s not easy when u lost ur love ur family ur friends
Well God bless us all

Cecelia says

Younger The Elder says

Why would I wanna live in the present when you can’t eat what you want, can’t smoke, can’t do anything.

simon carter says

Hi my names Simon I’ve struggled with drug addiction for more than 20 years until recently when I read a book called the power of Now which opened my eyes and I started putting it into practice,not easy at first to grasp the concept but read it three times over for it to really understand it. We can only be truly happy by living in the present moment there is no other time than the now.

Ken O. says

Simon, Power of Now is a great book. I am smiling.

Odile uwitije says

How much screen time is healthy for children?

Many parents believe that technology and gadgets are essential for a child’s development, but can you go too far? How much time should a child spend in front of a screen is a question being asked not just by worried parents but psychologists, health organisations and even governments. Here, you can read a collection of experts’ guidelines for managing a child’s screen time, and their warnings and advice on the dangers of recreational screen time, especially before bedtime. (Also see: Is YouTube safe for kids?)

Isolation update: Screens can be a lifeline

This was especially pertinent when families were having to avoid usual social contact but remain true at all times. Social distancing and self-isolation at home resulted in nearly a two-fold surge of children’s smartphone screen time, according to Bosco, a monitoring app for the online and social activity of children and teens.

The number of messages in the WhatsApp groups of children is now five times higher than it was pre-lockdown, and as for teens aged 13 and over it is now 7.5 times higher than before the Coronavirus crisis started, reports Bosco.

A Harris Poll survey in August 2020 found nearly seven in 10 parents of 5-to-17-year-olds said their kids’ screen time had increased, and 60% felt they “have no choice but to allow it.”

Children are averaging an extra 1.5 hours of screen time a day on school days, not counting usage for school.

The British Psychological Society warns that “Too much screen time for young children can unintentionally cause permanent damage to their still-developing brains. The ability to focus, to concentrate, to lend attention, to sense other people’s attitudes and communicate with them, to build a large vocabulary—all those abilities are harmed.”

However, child psychologists are now warning that months of isolation are likely to have serious emotional consequences to children, especially an only child.

Penelope Leach, author of the bestselling Your Baby and Child, previously said it would be best for children under two not to have any screen time at all, but now recognizes that “we are in a completely different situation”.

“Screens do not entirely replace face-to-face interaction, but it is better than nothing,” she advises, suggesting applications such as WhatsApp, Zoom and Houseparty to talk online to friends.

The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that American children spend a whopping seven hours a day in front of electronic media.

The UK government’s Commons Science & Technology Committee has announced an inquiry into the impact of social media and screen-use on young people’s health. And Unicef has published a review on the effects of digital technology on children’s psychological wellbeing, including happiness, mental health and social life. This suggested that some screen time could be good for children’s mental wellbeing, but that too much had a negative impact.

The UK’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) does not set time limits for different age groups because there’s a lack of evidence. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that screen time should be replaced with more time for interaction, physical activity and sleep.

In the US and UK the average age for kids getting a phone is 10.

Positive and negative effects of screen time

Here we look at the positive and negative effects of screen time, and how it can affect academic results and even lead to non-screen addictions later in life. We look at establishing rules for children, and how we need to follow these ourselves as parents. Screen breaks are important, and there are apps that can help you reduce screen time.

There’s a lot of detail here, so if you just want to know some quick guidelines, read our shorter Parents and Children’s Screen Time guidelines at the end of this feature.

The reason behind all this gadget use: over a third of parents (35 percent) said they use tech gadgets to entertain their children because they are convenient, and nearly a quarter (23 percent) because they want their children to be tech-savvy. A 2015 survey of 1,000 British mothers of children aged 2 to 12 found that 85 percent of mums admit to using technology to keep the kids occupied while they get on with other activities. The AO.com survey pointed to children spending on average around 17 hours a week in front of a screen – almost double the 8.8 weekly hours spent playing outside.

Wanting our children to be tech-savvy is understandable, and the need to keep them entertained (while we work or just tidy up after them!) will also make sense to many a parent. But we must also weigh up the risks associated with children having too much screen time.

In his lecture ‘Managing Screen Time and Screen Dependency’ Dr Aric Sigman argues that “whether it’s Facebook, the internet or computer games, screen time is no longer merely a cultural issue about how children spend their leisure time, nor is it confined to concern over the educational value or inappropriate content—it’s a medical issue”.

Sigman is concerned less with a child’s ICT or Computer Science study or use of computers for homework, but more with their screen time in non-educational environments in front of entertainment screen media such as television, the internet and computer games. He has some strong recommendations for reducing children’s screen time, from toddlers to teenagers—and adults, too.

Obviously he is less worried by educational television programmes and even some educational computer games or mobile apps, but still recommends strictly limiting all screen time for kids.

TV has been an easy “babysitter” for years now, aided even further with DVDs, Netflix and so on. But computer, tablet and mobile screens engender more worry, in what has been put down as merely the latest generational complaint—”fresh expressions of horrible and timeless anxieties … a tried and true form of advanced-age self-care”.

The current generation of children in most Western societies spends more time in front of a screen than any before it. A study back in 2010 – before even the phenomenal rise of Apple’s iPad and other tablets – estimated that by the age of 10 children had access to an average of five screens in their lives. That number, Sigman suggests, has almost certainly risen since.

In addition to the main family TV, for example, many young children have their own bedroom telly along with portable computer game consoles (Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox), smartphone, family computer and a laptop and/or a tablet computer.

By the age of seven the average child will have spent a full year of 24-hour days watching recreational screen media, claims Sigman. Over the course of childhood, children spend more time watching TV than they spend in school.

More screens means more consumption, and more medical problems argues Dr Sigman.

Screen time effect on academic grades

In 2015 Cambridge University researchers recorded the activities of more than 800 14-year-olds and analysed their GCSE results at 16. Those spending an extra hour a day on screens (TV, computer, games console, phone) saw a fall in GCSE results equivalent to two grades overall.

On average, the 14-year-olds said they spent four hours of their leisure time each day watching TV or in front of a computer.

An additional hour of screen-time each day was associated with 9.3 fewer GCSE points at 16 – the equivalent of dropping a grade in two subjects. Two extra hours of screen-time was associated with 18 fewer points – or dropping a grade in four subjects. Even if pupils spent more time studying, more time spent watching TV or online, still harmed their results, the analysis suggested.

Establish screen time rules for the whole family

So how much screen time is healthy for a 7 year-old, 10 year old, even 1, 2 or 3 year old? How much TV should a child watch? How many hours in front of a computer? You may be be shocked at too how much time in front of a screen has an adverse effect on a child’s health and development.

Parents who want to reduce their children’s screen time need to establish rules to reduce the risk of later health and psychological issues.

Sigman admits that there is a lack of clarity of advice, but points to a number of governmental advice points on the maximum amount of time a child should spend in front of a screen.

In 2013 the US Department of Health recommended that children under two years of age should not be in front of a screen at all, and over that age the maximum leisure screen time should be no more than two hours a day.

The French government has even banned digital terrestrial TV aimed at all children under three, while Australia and Canada have similar recommendations and guidelines.

Harvard clinical psychologist and school consultant, Catherine Steiner-Adair (author of The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age) has studied the impact of digital technology on infant brain development. A baby’s brain is hardwired to learn language, emotions and how to regulate them. Steiner believes there is no productive role technology can play in the life of a baby under two years.

The UK government has recently backtracked on a 2008 guidance that children should be exposed to technology and computers from a very young age, but there is currently no medical or governmental guidelines on screen time in the UK. The advice from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) is that children should have TV-free days, or have two-hour limits on the time spent in front of screens.

Ofcom in the UK estimates that the average 3-4-year-old spends three hours a day in front of a screen. This rises to four hours for ages 5-7, 4.5 hours by ages 8-11, and 6.5 hours for teenagers.

The report also found that older children are spending more time online and are more likely to go online alone, children aged 12-15 are spending more time online (rising from 14.9 hours a week to 17.1 hours) and spend as much time in a week using the internet as they do watching television. Up to 43 percent of kids are also more likely to mostly use the internet in their bedrooms.

Children who use the internet mostly alone comprise one in seven internet users aged 5-7 (14%), one in four aged 8-11 (24%) and over half of those aged 12-15 (55%).

Children are going online via a wider range of devices. Internet access using a PC or laptop is increasingly being supplemented by access through other devices. All age groups are more likely in 2012 to go online using a tablet computer, and children aged 5-7 and 12-15 are also more likely to go online using a mobile phone.

It’s telling that Apple’s Steve Jobs didn’t allow his kids to play with iPads at all. Steve was a bit of an extremist, but limiting screen time should be at the front of every parent’s mind – and that includes their own screen time in front of children. And Bill Gates of Microsoft capped video-game time for his daughter.

Steiner-Adair found that babies showed signs of distress when they looked to a parent for a reassuring connection and discovered the parent is distracted by technology. Her research found that 70 percent of kids think their parents spend too much time on devices, and accuse their parents of double standards.

Two of Apple’s largest shareholders recently called on the tech giant to develop software that limits how long children can use its smartphones.

Parents know that to establish rules for their children they need to be roles models too. So that means putting your phone down when around the kids, and trying not to eat every meal in front of the TV. You can’t lecture a child about screen time if you are getting too much too!

We should look out for “technology-based interruptions in parent-child interactions”—a phenomenon known as “technoference”, which seems to correlate with children being more prone to whining, sulking, restlessness, frustration and outbursts of temper.

Introduce frequent screen breaks

Dr Larry Rosen, psychology professor at California State University, says that it’s more important to limit the stretches of time children spend in front of screens rather than worry about the total amount each day. Frequent breaks stop the brains from becoming over stimulated and combat screen addiction. Kids need to switch off without stress.

Rosen suggests a limit of 40 minutes then an hour’s break for under 10s. For older pre-teens that should be a maximum of an hour, then an hour off. For teenagers it should be a maximum of an hour and a half.

Give kids a five-minute warning before their allotted time is up, and take away future screen time if they don’t switch off. You can give bonuses for good screen behavior but be aware that this goes against the overall message of moderation so use it sparingly.

Apps to limit screen time for kids

There are a few apps that parents can install to actually limit the time their children spend on a computer and/or mobile screen. Screen-limiting apps include OurPact (a parental control app for iPhones, iPads, and iPods) and Screen Time (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android and Kindle Fire).

Addiction dangers of too much screen time early in life

“Early screen viewing is likely to lead to long periods of viewing for the rest of your life,” says Sigman. “The way you view screens when you are young forms the habits you pick up for ever after it seems.”

An early taste for entertainment screen media can lead to changes in the brain that stay with you for life—a life that may be shorter as a result.

Like other addictions screen time creates significant changes in brain chemistry – most notably, in the release of dopamine. This neurotransmitter – also known as the pleasure chemical – is central to addictions from sugar to cocaine. Dr Peter Whybrow, director of neuroscience at UCLA, calls screens “electronic cocaine” and in China researchers tag them “digital heroin.”

“Dopamine is produced when we see something that is interesting or new, but it also has a second function. Dopamine is also the neurochemical involved in most addictions – it’s the reward chemical.

“There are concerns among neuroscientists that this dopamine being produced every single day for many years—through for example playing computer games—may change the reward circuitry in a child’s brain and make them more dependent on screen media,” warns Sigman.

(If you want to see some head-scratchingly weighty, early scientific research on computer games and dopamine release, check out this 1998 research paper from the Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine.)

In her study of “Internet Addiction” by Dr. Kimberly Young suggests that 18 percent of college-age internet users in the US suffer from tech addiction.

On the perils of too much screen time Sigman has investigated the extent to which time online may be displacing face-to-face contact, and that lack of social connection is associated with physiological changes, increased incidence of illness and higher premature mortality.

Dangers of childhood computer gaming

Think about the type of games children are getting addicted to playing. The narrative of a game is an important factor, as some—Grand Theft Auto being the obvious example—clearly lead to a lack of impulse control, and potential neuro-chemical changes in the release of dopamine.

“Providing a child with a lot of novelty may produce higher levels of dopamine in a child’s brain, making the child seek more and more screen time to satisfy their need for more dopamine,” says Sigman.

An article in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse suggested that “computer game playing may lead to long-term changes in the reward circuitry that resemble the effects of substance dependence”.

“Computer game addicts or gamblers show reduced dopamine response to stimuli associated with their addiction presumably due to sensitization.”

However, an Oxford University team instead found a link between people who spent time gaming each week with those who had a positive sense of wellbeing.

“Play can be an activity that relates positively to people’s mental health—and regulating video games could withhold those benefits from players,” Andrew Przybylski, director of research at the Oxford Internet Institute, said.

Another recent report from the University of Montreal found that while social media use, TV viewing and computer use was linked to anxiety, video gaming was not and could make teenagers happier.

Games in a virtual world also lead to a false sense of competence. Children need to base their lives on reality not fake, virtual worlds, says Sigman.

Sigman is also sceptical about the supposed benefits of computer game play, such as better hand-eye co-ordination. There may well be improved eye-hand-keyboard-mouse dexterity but many reports of such benefits are sponsored by interested games and tech companies, he claims.

Fast use of a games console controller is of little use outside of the gaming environment. And the reduction in sustained attention is a far greater loss.

On the other hand Robert Hannigan, the former head of the UK Government’s electronic spy agency, says that parents fear an online world where they understand less than their children: “Parental guilt is driven by a failure to appreciate that life online and ‘real’ life are not separate: they are all part of the same experience. Millennials understand this. Gaming and social media can be as sociable as mooching around the streets with a group of friends was once.”

Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist and author of ‘The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age’, disagrees that increased screen time is good for children and young adults. Children who are heavy users of electronics may become adept at multitasking, she argues, but they lose the ability to focus on what is most important – a trait critical to the deep thought and problem solving needed in life.

Screen time effects on educational development

Children’s cognitive development is two years down on what it was 30 years ago because children have lost both concrete and abstract thinking.

Today’s children have less idea of weight and length measurements because the more time spent in virtual worlds, the less they are involved in the real world. This is the finding from two expert reports from 2007 and 2009: ‘Thirty years on – a large anti-Flynn effect? The Piagetian test Volume & Heaviness norms’ by Michael Shayer and Denise Ginsburg.

Sigman is critical of schools over-use of technology, which he blames on the multi-billion-pound education-tech industry forcing its products on schools and even nurseries on the unfounded fear that children suffer without using the latest digital devices.

“Until we know better, I advise precaution,” says Sigman. “Keep technology and screens away from the under threes, and set limits on all ages after that.”

A study conducted in 2017 by the Center on Media and Child Health and the University of Alberta found that 75% of teachers surveyed say students’ ability to focus on educational tasks has decreased.

With so many dangers associated with too much screen time for children, and little fixed advice from health authorities or governments Dr Sigman offers his own guidelines (see below) for reducing the risks.

Keep reading for our handy screen-time tips for parents on the next page…

Tablets before bedtime cause sleep disruption

Sigman was recently interviewed on British TV—watch the clip here—about how the use of tablets and other electronic devices can disrupt children’s sleep—indeed adults’ sleep will also be affected by what is known as “Blue Light” that these tech products emit.

The light from digital devices is “short-wavelength-enriched,” so it has a higher concentration of blue light than natural light—and blue light affects levels of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin more than any other wavelength.

“Recreational screen time has now moved in to the bedroom,” warned Sigman.

“There is a strong link between tablet or any type of small screen that emits what is known as ‘blue light’—good in the morning as it wakes us up; bad in the night as it wakes us up.

“The Kindle Paperwhite doesn’t emit the same levels of blue light. And there are filter glasses and apps that actually change the type of light, but light isn’t the only reason.

“Brains are being stimulated before bedtime in the way that books don’t do. Exciting games just before bedtime is not a good idea. Electronic devices should be switched off at least an hour before bedtime,” the expert warns.

It’s not necessarily all bad

Experts who regard some screen time as beneficial urge parents to pay attention to how their kids act during and after watching TV, playing video games, or on the computer online. “If they’re using high-quality, age-appropriate media, their behavior is positive, and their screen-time activities are balanced with plenty of healthy screen-free ones, there’s no need to worry.”

But even these parents should consider creating a schedule that works for their family: including weekly screen-time limits, limits on the kinds of screens they can use, and guidelines on the types of activities they can do or programmes they can watch. See our guidelines below.

It’s important to get your kids’ input as well—media literacy and self-regulation help buy in. It’s also a great opportunity to discover what your kids like watching, letting you introduce new shows and apps for them to try.

So how much screen time for children?

The simple answer: not much. None for children under two. That’s right. The experts suggest that babies and toddlers are kept away from all screens. Sorry CBeebies.

Children aged 2-5 years should have no more than an hour a day, and children aged 5-18 years should have no more than two hours a day. That’s a tough call for teenagers, especially with homework often requiring computer time. But remember that the real danger is non-educational, leisure screen time, so you may wish to discount homework screen time.

Parents should be able to decide if these strictures are too harsh, and allow some screen time flexibility, but not caring at all about the amount of time your children spend in front of screens is dangerous.

Parents and Children’s Screen Time guidelines

Minimize screen time for children under three. The French government recommends no screen time in this age group. A maximum of two hours leisure screen time for children aged over 3. This does not include homework.

Check access and availability

Don’t allow TVs, computers or any screen-based device into a child’s bedroom. Sigman relates that he has spoken to many parents who have regretted allowing screens into bedrooms and feel removing them later is harder than refusing them in the first place. Even though it may be difficult, you should take the screens away from the bedroom. Otherwise you risk your child’s cognitive and physical health.

Most parents haven’t devised screen-time protocols for their children, and need to create media-free zones in their homes, banish TV dinners, and put away their own digital devices when communicating with their children, he urges.

Explain the reasons

Don’t just switch off the telly, tablet or computer—explain to your child why you are limiting screen time. Discuss the health benefits of reduced screen time. Children will listen to the health reasons for reduced screen time if the dangers are clearly pointed out.

Sigman debunks the notions that children who have little screen time will be less likely to learn as much as those who do enjoy unlimited time in front of computers or the TV. They also won’t rebel later in life.

Technology is a tool for learning, not the end in its own right.

Show interest in what your kids are doing online.

Don’t be judgmental about what children and teens do online. Otherwise they won’t be open to sharing. You need to understand what kids and teens are doing online as the first step in guiding them towards more healthy experiences.

Share your own screen-time habits as examples to get the conversation with your kids started.

Parental role modelling

Ever catch yourself checking your email, using your smartphone or watching TV while your child is trying to talk to you? Stop using the device and communicate with your child face to face. This will help establish empathy and also set a good example of the child.

The parent is a child’s primary role model, and sticking the kids in front of a screen is an example of what is known as benign neglect.

Don’t have all meals in front of the TV, and don’t keep reaching for your smartphone while in front of the child. It tells the child that constant screen time is acceptable. And it will do you good, too!

Engage in their world

Spend some time with your child online—look at the sites, games or YouTube videos they are watching. You need to understand your child’s online life.

Mums need to nag

It might sound sexist but Dr Sigman claims that a mother’s nagging – “maternal monitoring” in nicer terms—is the best way to get children to change their behavior. Dads need to enforce the rules, too.

Remove background noise

You may not realize it but passive viewing is ruining your child’s concentration. A child’s attention will wander if you’re watching the TV news in another part of the room.

Take an average week and look at how much screen time your child, and indeed the whole family, is subjecting themselves to. Add up the favorite TV shows, smartphone and tablet app play, Internet browsing and video games, and that two hours is filled up very quickly.

Screen time often leads to over stimulation so take breaks to calm down a child’s brain. See our time guidelines earlier in this feature.

Multitasking is for adults, not children. Deep concentration in kids will lead to better, more creative thinkers. Research suggests that trying to get children to multitask actually makes them worse at multitasking because they don’t learn effective concentration skills.

No screens before bedtime

Take a gap between screen time and sleep. Most screens these days use LCDs that emit a blue light that inhibits sleep and disrupts the circadian rhythm (body clock). Remember that the bedroom is not an entertainment centre. It’s the place children go to sleep.

Create a boredom-buster list

To help children access their creativity and self determination get them to create a list of the sorts of things they’d like to do when not allowed to go to a screen. Stick the list on the fridge. Then when the child complains they have nothing to do you can refer them to the list, or add more to it.

Use screens to combat screen time

Use the wealth of the Internet to help you wean your kids off the screen. There are plenty of art projects online, cooking tips, gardening, science experiments… you name it there’s plenty of online tutorials that should translate into time away from the screen.

If isolated, use screens to keep children social

We’re not talking Facebook here, but applications such as WhatApp, Zoom and Houseparty allow kids to talk online to friends, which is really important if families are isolating for health reasons.

Alternatives to screen time

Dr Sigman is a big believer in what he calls the “gift of boredom”. He rubbishes the idea that the worst thing that can happen to a child is for he or she to be bored. Children, he says, need to learn how to deal with boredom. Being over stimulated is worse than being bored. Learning to cope with being bored leads to greater self sufficiency, and less risk that children later become addicted to unhealthy activities to fill such gaps.

Physical activity. Screen time is usually sedentary so getting the child up and moving is by far the healthier option. The latest scientific research actually suggests that screen-time sitting is worse for one’s health than standard sitting because of the over-stimulation that screen time induces in the user.

If you must use gadgets maybe invest in an activity tracker, from the likes of Fitbit or Amazfit. See Best Activity Trackers. There’s even a Leapfrog activity tracker for very young children.

Being fitter, however, does not take away the harmful effects of screen time. Even keep-fit enthusiasts suffer ill effects of spending too much time sitting down.

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology ran a study in Scotland that found that “recreational sitting, as reflected by television/screen viewing time, is related to raised mortality and cardiovascular disease risk regardless of physical activity participation.”

Increased physical activity is, of course, beneficial but it doesn’t mean you won’t suffer an increased risk of death from over-doing your screen time.

So reduce hours of screen time by replacing with more physical activity, not just getting fitter while still spending too much time in front of the telly, computer or games console.

Hours of sedentary behavior is linked not only to obesity, but other health problems such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. While you’re thinking of how much time your kid is sitting down in front of a screen, do yourself a favour and have a walk about yourself.

Get outside. Suggesting going for a walk isn’t going to cut it, so make the activity fun: tree climbing, hide-and-seek in a wood, or camping.

Social activity. Don’t fool yourself that being on Facebook all day is social. It’s vital that kids get out and interact with other children in real life and not in phony virtual worlds.

Hobbies. It might not feel like it sometimes but children are very good at working out ways of filling their time when they have to, and finding out some stimulating hobbies—art, craft, fishing, sports, Lego, kites, collecting, bird watching, astronomy, cooking, museums, photography, music, gardening, etc—shouldn’t be too difficult.

Do the chores. You’re kidding, right? But kids should help out round the house, tidy up after themselves, learn some basic cooking, lay the table, empty the dishwasher, hang out the clothes… It might be boring but it does create a break from the screen.

Also: Best headphones for kids – keep your child’s hearing safe with these kid-friendly headphones.

About Dr Aric Sigman

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine Dr Aric Sigman has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Psychology, a Master of Science degree in The Neurophysiological Basis of Behaviour, and a Ph.D. in the field of the role of attention in autonomic nervous system self-regulation.

The British Medical Association British Medical Journals’ Archives of Disease in Childhood has recently published his paper on screen time as its leading article. Dr Sigman has addressed the European Parliament Working Group on the Quality of Childhood in the European Union, in Brussels, on the impact of electronic media and screen dependency. In 2012, the EU Parliamentary Working Group published his report on the impact of electronic media and screen dependency. Dr Sigman’s previous books include The Spoilt Generation and Remotely Controlled: How Television is Damaging Our Lives.

He has published other papers, including Well Connected?: The Biological Implications of ‘Social Networking’, is published in The Biologist, Vol 56(1), the journal of the Society of Biology.?

His previous paper Visual Voodoo, on the biological effects associated with watching television, also published in The Biologist, and his talk at the Houses of Parliament, caused widespread public debate.

Science in the News

Opening the lines of communication between research scientists and the wider community

No, It’s Not Just You: Why time “speeds up” as we get older

How a clock measures time and how you perceive it are quite different. As we grow older, it can often feel like time goes by faster and faster. This speeding up of subjective time with age is well documented by psychologists, but there is no consensus on the cause. In a paper published this month, Professor Adrian Bejan presents an argument based on the physics of neural signal processing. He hypothesizes that, over time, the rate at which we process visual information slows down, and this is what makes time ‘speed up’ as we grow older.

As we age, he argues, the size and complexity of the networks of neurons in our brains increases – electrical signals must traverse greater distances and thus signal processing takes more time. Moreover, ageing causes our nerves to accumulate damage that provides resistance to the flow of electric signals, further slowing processing time. Focusing on visual perception, Bejan posits that slower processing times result in us perceiving fewer ‘frames-per-second’ – more actual time passes between the perception of each new mental image. This is what leads to time passing more rapidly.When we are young, each second of actual time is packed with many more mental images. Like a slow-motion camera that captures thousands of images per second, time appears to pass more slowly.

As he puts it: “People are often amazed at how much they remember from days that seemed to last forever in their youth. It’s not that their experiences were much deeper or more meaningful, it’s just that they were being processed in rapid fire.”

Bejan’s argument is intuitive and based on simple principles of physics and biology. As such, it is a compelling explanation for this common phenomenon. However, it is not the only explanation out there, and so a more rigorous experimental approach may be required before this mystery is solved for good.

Managing Correspondent: Rory Maizels

Original article: Why the Days Seem Shorter as We Get Older – European Review

Image Credit: Aron Visuals

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170 thoughts on “ No, It’s Not Just You: Why time “speeds up” as we get older ”

I am 64 years old and have noticed how time seems to be flying by. As a result, I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. I believe a good part of this has to do with perception. If my life span was 250 years long, I do not think that time would appear to be flying by.

That’s one of the reasons I never accept the theory that we are the some total of our experience, the Doctor is convinced humans are biologic computers and being human is much more than that! For instance all life down to the smallest virus contain information stored in the DNA, Doctor!

It’s a relative thing. Einstein theory. As we get older each year is a small er part of our life. When I was 10 each year was 1 tenth of my life. I’m now 67 each year 1 67th of my life

This is my opinion as well. It makes the most sense and I feel age relative to it’s perportion of my life.

I agree… I have often thought your brain is a collection of all of YOUR experiences so if you are 4, you have had 4 birthdays, 4 Christmas’s, 4 summers etc. so everything you have collected in your brain related to time is divided by those events. The duration until the next summer is 1/4 of your total time memory.
At 24? it is 1/24 of your total time memory so you start looking for a new swimsuit in April..
At 84? Well, if you are still counting… it takes a load more time memory dividing than 4. On the plus side you probably wouldn’t be caught dead in a swimsuit! No worries.
😳

I used to think that for a long time, but an alternative just popped into mind that I suspect is actually what is happening. A child sleeps in such a manner that each morning when it wakes up it is like a new being. As we age this capacity for sleep to complete dissolve our feeling of the past fades and as it fades, like an old coat we start to grow as we age which more and more highlights our life as a continuum.
It is almost impossible for person as an adult to experience how they slept as a child, or the degree to which sleep cleaned out automated processes from which we derive our sense of the passage of time. But under certain unusual but natural conditions it can happen. But its possible there is a reason why it biologically happens like this. As we age responsibilities arise that would make the sort of sleep a very young child has impractical.

What in the world does all that mean about SLEEP as a child.
What does ir have to do with time speeding up??

Very well said. Thank you.

That’s a wonderful explanation.
I too feel so.

I like this explanation, it aligns with what I was told by a psychologist many years ago. Simply put, we obviously have a limited amount of memories to pull and reflect on, and they obviously accumulate, very slowly. So as we age, we have more memories to reflect on, thus giving the perception of time to go faster and faster. Slow and steady reality when we are new to the world. And as our memories become more similar and not that different since we are creatures of habit and our memories begin to overlap, time feels like it is going faster.

Just recently I’ve noticed how fast the week goes by especially by Tuesdays. Why Tuesdays speed into the end of the week when time slows a bit.
It is hard to believe it was almost a year ago the riot at the US Capital happened too.
Maybe as we slow our physical lives down we sense a greater change in time—we can experience more from our past lives of memories too. All things are connected so to our senses of sight, sound, touch, etc.

Beautiful and clear

Ah this explanation makes most sense to me!

i have aids i have aids i have aids i have aids

Okay so what does having aids have to do with time speeding up as we age?

I agree it seems there’s a lot of things mentioned here to take into account! I think I likely to be a mixture of things mentioned here. Thought I’d put this here as I enjoyed reading this: Although not suggested as a valid reason, I too used to wonder about a lot but as a teenager. I became convinced that we were getting a little closer to the sun each year, like how water goes down a plug hole. I even suggested it to my science teacher! 🙂

wow that’s a fascinating reality and theory

Maybe it’s just the total amount of time speeding up, in the same way the total amount of space is getting bigger: the closer we are to the end of time and space, the faster it goes.

That is exactly the rational I was told once. It makes sense to me for this to be the most logical. Very interesting conversation piece. One of those things in life we will just have to form our own individual opinions as to why this is a common feeling when it relates to age.

I AM 81 YEARS YOUNG WITH SOME HEALTH ISSUES THAT I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO..TIMES DOES SEEM TO FLY..I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER TIME WAS NOT A FACTOR I TRY TO USE THIS CONCEPT TO ENJOY LIFE EACH AND EVERY DAY..THANKS FOR LISTENING

Okay thanks but im67 feel older and wiser

This seems to make more sense then the argument presented in the article.

that’s brilliant; never thought of it this way.

And when you were 4 each hour was 0.0028% of your life. But 0.0028% of 67 years is 2 months!

These are all amazing thoughts, i can relate 2 alot of them but still cannot help but think that there is more 2 time going this fast since 2019,

I acknowledge that its been going relatively fast previously but now its on a different level,you can have your good 7-8 hour sleep but still feel like you only slept for 2 hours,that’s how fast time flies…i thought i was alone until alot of ppl talked about it and i get to observe how 89% of the people in the public transport/bus i am using is sleeping on route to work and on route home every single day,of complete exhaustion,fatigue…which is because time is going relatively fast and your mind and body can not keep up with the past,which causes the above,the individual is also drained because the time going so fast,which is draining core parts of the spirit and can cause memory gaps/open spaces accure because you not able to be present you moving on a past that is hard for our minds to adapt 2…

I believe that the simple reality is, as you get older, your ability to store the memories of that particular time are compromised. Therefore your brain perceives this as a shorter event period and thus a greater time frame has elapsed versus average memory volume recorded.

“When you sit with a nice girl for two hours you think it’s only a minute, but when you sit on a hot stove for a minute you think it’s two hours. That’s relativity.”

I believe God is telling us we don’t have much time, to get our life right with Him…🙏🛐✝️ Something to think about!

That could be the case I hope.
As a kid days seemed much longer.
Now weeks, months, years seem to fly by.

It is because….time is running out, unlike when we were all 14 and had unlimited time.
Now our minutes are nearly used up, and as Warren Zevon said,
“my sh*t is f*cked up.”

As we get older we forget so much during the course of a year that Xmas seems to come round every few months. However, when we concentrate on what interests us such as my observing my many grandchildren growing up they seem to have been small little adults for millennia with squeaky voices growing only slowly. That’s because I pay them so much attention fascinated by their lives and remembering far more about them and because I make more effort to concentrate. So, for me, day to day life fly’s by but not if you focus on all the events of a subject. Hope that makes sense!

They the eyes of a child. I remember when 6th grade seemed a long way off. But soon I was in high school and then married and having children. Then the children ask way Christmas and birthdays were so far in the distance. As we get older we developed more patience about things. My grand daughter is in high school. Sure. Where did all 66 years go so fast. 6th grade now seems unimportant. But to a first grader it seems a long way off!! Perception. when will I be 90??

I agree with this in so far as I have commented, in a slightly different way!

It’s awesome to hear someone that listens to Warren Zevon. Love that song.

I too have thought that time perception is biological aging. Like a car starting out on a hill, at birth and through childhood, time moves slowly until we reach the top, middle age or just before. Then, as we pass “ over the hill”, just like that car we begin to speed towards death and time seems to speed up as well. It seems to me to be tied to our biological growth and subsequent deterioration. Time perception ruled at a cellular level.

Wow, that is a pretty awesome explanation. Probably the best one I read. Im sitting here at work and this thought came into my head so I had to look into it and after reading so many comments, this is by far the best one.

I agree with you!

I also agree thank you I think Im satisfied with your explanation. I wish we never deteriorated or at least stopped at about 30. Theres not enough time so many never get to do the things they want to do in life. Makes me very sad I need more time Im not done yet.

That’s a good theory.
Being young, we are always looking forward to certain things. Because they were special occasions for us then.
But once grown n basically doing same thing for years on end, not much to look forward to.
Christmas seems to come every few months now, as a kid it seemed like forever until next Christmas.

As kids Christmas was the best day of the year, as adults ( most of us) it’s just another time we need to try and find a bunch of gifts that we hope they like.
Buying gifts for kids is easy, adults, not so much, if adults want something they just buy it themselves

I’m 64 as well, but I also observe personally that time seems to slow when I have many tasks during the day, particularly if I’m absorbed in the tasks. But as I age I’m less involved in tasks and feel like time is elapsing quickly. Just wondering if not being as active, physically and/or mentally is more of the condition leading to these observations.

I totally agree with having fewer ‘tasks’, especially since I retired. On the busy days, time goes slower than on the less busy. When I was working, 5:00 took forever to arrive. Therefore I’ve decided I must have a daily schedule to help slow time down! I’m hoping it does the trick.

I discovered this also!

I think so. When you feel content and focused time appears to be different. Its how we think, we’re programmed! When we change our thinking by re-wiring, we change our perception. I’m 67 and by re-wiring my old programming, I’m feeling younger daily. So I guess I’m saying, I feel like I have another 67 years left, lol!

I agree. Also, when you’re younger, a year, for example is a larger percentage of the time you’ve been alive. As we age, a year becomes a smaller and smaller percentage of the time we’ve been alive, so it seems to go by faster as a result. That’s how I look at it anyway. All relative 🙂

Hi Robbin,
Hope all is well. Time flies. I was in high school just a few years ago. The sadness of time’s speed brought me here. Hope you are well.

Hi everyone, I am new to this site. This is a very interesting conversation. Here is my “two cents worth” I am 80 yrs old now and beginning to have some symptoms of forgetfulness. I love living, love my family, and love God, not necessarily in that order. In conversations with family members like my sister and brother, I remember things about our family when we were all young. Our father died at 37yrs old of esophageal cancer, and our mother had a rare skin disorder. We lived in a low price house district in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was on Social Security and a small salary from the movie theatre where she was a cashier. She managed to feed and clothe us with little money. She had a rare blood disease that caused sores on her legs, so she would wear a pair of support hose to cover her bandaged legs. She always looked nice and was pleasant to be around. She was 47 when she died. I have lived much longer than she did. Have I done it as well? I just hope to be as strong as she was before I die. My husband is gone too, but I have wonderful children who help me and a few close friends that I love. Be thankful for every day, be kind and helpful, and appreciate every breath, knowing that God gives it and knowing HIM is the best thing that can ever happen to a person. Living in America is a gift to treasure, take care of, and be thankful for. I know this isn’t really on the tenor of the conversation, but it’s my “two cents worth” Be Blessed.

Edna, thank you for sharing! You are so wise, and I appreciate your wisdom.

I’m 62. I agree. I think it would eventually seem to start passing faster, just probably much later, like when you’re 210-220 vs 50-60 as we experience.

Simply put, because “time is running out.” When we are young, we have all the time in the world and we unconsciously think we are going to live forever. However, when we hit a certain age (for me 70), we become very conscious that “time is running out” and we are “speeding toward death.” Our desire to “hold onto life” and “slow the passage of time” makes time go faster, i.e., when I was young, I wanted time to go faster (I wanted to be older); however, as I age, I want to time to slow down because I don’t want to get older. My 2 cents!

The distance between the Moon and the Earth affect the speed of the Earths rotation due to magnetic friction. The moon is in a different spot in the sky everyday, the closer the moon is one day the more magnetic friction slows the Earths rotation and a longer day is had. Another day the moon is in a different spot a bit further away, now the Earths rotation picks up speed a bit and a shorter day is had. That’s my intuitive thought anyways.

All i want to say that my elementary school lasted forever, as well as days in a high school. Times began to fly when in a college.

Why does time goes faster as we get older? That’s a crazy idea.

Guys, let’s be real. Ultimately there’s no such thing as a time machine. In other words, it is what it is. Time is goin by quick because we wasting time thinking about why time goes by quick. Live in the moment, it’s yours. In the meantime, take me back to Love Machine.

Agree. Your as young as you feel!@

You make more sense than the professor!

Thank you! This seems quite easy, But again…its perception! Some here say that time goes slower when they are more active…I cant understand how that is possible…oh well…

It’s like the commercial “when a body is in motion, it stay’s in motion “ I guess! When I’m more present and focused my time slows also.

Wait until you’re 70. Your opinion might just change.

Wait till you’re 80 plus. I’m trying too hard to do well at not trying too hard to do well. Say that 3 times fast, if there’s time. (smile)
an Octogenarian

i have one question for you ma’am

is that true my running speed increase when i grow
which age is good to get fast speed

Austin Feinberg – time doesn’t go faster. Our perception of time makes it appear to go faster. I have a lot more to think about these days so I don’t spend as much time observing and enjoying, as I used to.

Death and a Black Hole have common traits. Time moves faster as we get nearer our time of death. Just as an object gets nearer a Black Hole the faster it travels. Death is the non-existence of time as is the object that travels into a Black Hole approaching non-existence.

I have used the whirlpool as an analogy since I started perceiving time speeding up about 10 years ago in my mid-40’s. When I was young we are on the outer parts of the whirlpool, but as I get older I move closer and closer, time moves faster and faster until I reach the middle at the end of life. And thennnn….

and Theeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn…………………..you go back home to your
Heavenly Father where you came from and, continue growing as a person. You are his child. If you have questions, please read at LDS.org,

Geeze..I thought I was depressed before…..I take it you’re an Atheist….

I am 20 and my birthday is in 3 months time, more and more it feels like days turn into weeks and months just fly by. My 20th b day seems like it was about 5 months ago. Depressing me big time

I am 14 and already thinking about this wich causes me anxiety and difficulty to sleep so like i’d like to know if theres a way to fix this issue.

Me too. Let me know if you find anything.

While listening to a podcast about Frank Ocean’s song “Skyline To” a very academic Cole Chuchna explains that a scientific study suggests that in our youth, time seems to pass slowly because it is chock full of new experiences, which the brain marks with importance. This makes youth feel longer. As we age and settle into schedules, our experiences blend together and become the same, making time seem to move faster than before. My opinion? Be curious for new experiences with ravenous hunger.

My thoughts exactly, Azwaw.

You have anxiety and difficulty sleeping because your mind is obsessed with these spalling thoughts. My mind was in turmoil when I was a teenager.
The perception of time is like riding a sleigh off a snow covered mountain. The sleigh picks up speed as it descends. It’s the same way with I us
As we get older time seems to speed up. It’s been my experience and approaching my eighty sixth birthday it’s like riding a rocket. The years are whizzing by and it seems like only yesterday that I was just fourteen!
I suggest learning to live in the eternal NOW and accepting the things you cannot change. Decide who you are and what your mission is during your brief journey on spaceship earth. Be grateful for each day because it is a Present.
Peace and Blessings Always remember that God loves you!

I liked what you just said.

Amen! “Live in the Eternal now!” I completely agree! your days here on earth are so very precious. So enjoy the time you have without worry of time. Enjoy your life! its a gift! Take chances, tell the people you love, that you love them! take that trip! go on that adventure! ask for that promotion! ask her or him out! instead of worrying about time, think of all the things you can still do, and don’t hesitate to do them!
And yes God loves you! Don’t ever forget that!

Bless you Thank you for your wise and beautiful thoughts and input

Thanks Timothy. Your refreshing outlook and advice is well received.

Thank you so much, that was well said.

How does one learn to live in the now sir. I don’t know if I can learn that at this point. I believe in God Jesus and the Holy Ghost. Why am I always crying I want to be happy, grow a garden, have a home with pets and people,family and friends, cookouts and back yard party’s. Trips to exotic places for 2 weeks out of the year or camping at the lake or the mountains. I want to ride a zip line and fly my own personal bicycle. There’s no more time. I’ve wasted so much time. Im sorry Im just scared anymore all the time
Thanks for listening. Peace

Don’t worry about it. Spend time enjoying every day and make sure to appreciate all the good things and people in your life. That’s the most important thing. That we enjoy the journey. The fact that you are already thinking about this means that you are very special.

They’re all gone.

I’m 25 and time is moving by faster every year. Life is short. I might be 25 now but soon I’ll be like 70 in a blink of an eye. As you get older, you experience less new things. Society forces you into this path, because you have to work. It becomes monotonous. There are also biological reasons that cause time to pass faster. There’s nothing you can do except keep doing things you like. Have no regrets when you get old.

Just stop thinking about it so much. Relax and enjoy life. Don’t intend to sound so cliche but you are still a youngster. Wait till your in your 60s and older. You think time is flying by now? I did same thing. Just relax😀

Time slows down when we lose technology. Think about the last time the power went out. What did you do? How long did the hours seem? I have been putting my phone away as much as i can for this reason.
Monotony is another reason time seems to speed away from us. If you’re doing the same things every day there isn’t much to remember.
Lose your screens and go make some memories. It will help, with both time and with general happiness.

You need to learn and practice mindfulness techniques! You also need to try new experiences and balance your life with self care, creativity, and work. You are anxious and feeling empty because you are missing something bigger, outside of yourself. A higher power. I recommend starting with a Unitarian Church. They expose you to all religions, allowing you to make a connections and meet your Savior.

Same, man. The saddest part for me is probably the realization that time is flying by so fast. My dad is almost turning fifty and I regret that I couldn’t spend more valuable time with him when he was in his early-mid 40s. Now I just wish that he had me earlier so we’d be able to spend more time together.

Wait until your dad is over 70 while having the knowledge that time is finite as a person’s odds of mortal survival decrease mathematically each year of aging. Hope to celebrate his 80th, 85th, 90th, and so on, but I’m given no guarantee.
I live with a certain amount of dread on this as an only child with no other close family members except for my significant other.

Don’t worry we are all just a perspective of the universe. The universe experiencing itself. We have connected consciousness. Different currents of consciousness from the same pool. Experiencing life as a different perspective in different times. So in essence if we share consciousness and come from the same consciousness. We never die. We are literally each other.

No, what is depressing is my friend who died from Cancer at the age of 23. In your 20’s have balance. Have 3 hobbies. One that makes you money, one that you enjoy and let’s you be creative, and one that keeps you fit and healthy. Practice mindfulness, travel, save your money, and Practice mindfulness – a 39 year old.

Part of the experience is possibly the lack of novelty and the deterioration of comprehension. The inability to fully absorb oneself into events so that they subjectively integrate more slowly so that Comprehenion and reality are out of phase.

Interesting it is moving faster with in the confines of the wall clock ……seems impossible but it is…..it’s not in our head………..or it’s moving quicker

Utter nonsense. Time move more slowly as things accelerate more. It’s part and parcel of the general theory of relativity.

Absolutely a goal, now to obtain control over aging (with out surgical procedures) will be my challenge.

Alan Byron, we as children find everything so fascinating and everything is new to us! As we get older we become “adults” and that is what destroys our curiosity I guess and perhaps school and society in general, the media trains us to become part of the herd. We need to become children again, meaning to be in awe of new things.

Would you please explain this further? This is so interesting!

The speed of time is dependent on the processing of data from the environment…as we age less changes so we process the environment with less data… less data less time to process it… less time spent in 3D reality where time is experienced

I don’t think it already happens to me because of my age, but im forgetting more and more along the time. Im 16 and a day feels like a week. I also don’t remember a lot from a couple years ago

My theory is that it is about percentages: when we are young each additional year is a large per of our life (ie from 5 to 6 is 20% of our life). As we get older each year is a smaller and smaller percentage. ( ie 50 to 51 is only an additional 2%). I think that we feel percentage changes more than the absolute change.

I’ve thought about that. It’s kind of depressing to think that the time from 20 to 40 seems the same as 40 to death

About time (sic!) that someone cited this obvious fact! Thank you!

so my theory is that time goes faster as we get older because when we die w dont know if would turn into ghost plus time can be a ghost going through time faster anf faster if u think about it its an additional 50% of life
its sad…

Simpler answer…… When you are 10 years old 1 year is 1 tenth of you
existence. When you are 50 year old it’s 1 fiftieth of you existence. So
going from 10 years old to 11 – is the same as going from 50 year old to 55.
Living 1/10 more of your existence.

my brother reminds me of this every year on my birthday.
i don’t buy this “image processing” thing.

It’s all about how you remember things. If I think about the birth of my daughter 6 years ago in relation to celebrating her birthday it seems like time has just skipped in a flash. But then if you think about all the other things in between like first time walking, learning to ride a bike, first day of school, etc. it makes the day of her birth feel further away.

This article kind of help me have hope that I have time still. That I am not going to go to sleep one day at 40 and wake up at 80.
https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/07/15/time-warped-claudia-hammond/

“The problem with the proportionality theory is that it fails to account for the way we experience time at any one moment. We don’t judge one day in the context of our whole lives. If we did, then for a 40-year-old every single day should flash by because it is less than one fourteen-thousandth of the life they’ve had so far. It should be fleeting and inconsequential, yet if you have nothing to do or an enforced wait at an airport for example, a day at 40 can still feel long and boring and surely longer than a fun day at the seaside packed with adventure for a child. … It ignores attention and emotion, which … can have a considerable impact on time perception.”

Exactly! When you look at your life through the lens of hindsight with a macro view, of course time appears to have flown by. But if you could take each year of your life and list what you did every day….week by week, month by month, year by year, you would realize how little time actually did fly by, and what a long journey it’s been to get to where you are today.

Can you imagine it’s going to be 20 years since 9 11? I have been having a hard time processing this as to me it has felt as still does feel like it’s been 5, maybe 6 but not 7 years since. What the heck is going on?

It is because it is a memory that is constantly recalled and reviewed in great detail. So it feels fresh every time you recall the memory regardless of how much time has passed. The clearer a memory is to us the closer it will appear. Especially when you are only recalling that event. Start adding in things that have happened since then and it will start to stretch out the time frame.

I think this is why time seems to get faster when we are older. We have more days to remember. A lot is redundant. Even things like birthdays and holidays no matter how fun they are become routine. Finding something special and unique in those moments can help you separate out those moments. Upon quick recall it is going to seem like something a while back happened just yesterday.

For me I went to Vegas 4 years ago. It was memorable and I think about it a lot. So I go how they hell did 4 years pass by already. But then I start thinking about the other trips I have gone on in between and all the other big moments since then and it then starts to bridge that time and actually make it feel like 4 years have passed.

I still struggle with it a lot though as I am about to turn 34 and my kids are going to be 8 and 6 and thinking how fast 10 years will fly and they will be going to or getting ready to go to college. You want to remember everything in great detail and not miss out or forget anything, but it literally is impossible. It is just something I guess we have to learn to live with.

Oh man, that’s a great way to think of it.

I do that all the time – have a clear memory and that same feeling of how is this so long ago. Filling in other memories really does help.

This makes me feel more at ease.

All we truly have is now. So live life to the fullest in every moment. Enjoy the ones your with, enjoy the ones you love. Because before you know it time will pass us by.

I always thought it was a matter of percentage. As a youngster, each day was a significant percentage of my entire life. So of course it seemed longer. Not only that, but the percentage of new experiences was greater. As a teenager more things were repeat, but still plenty of new things, and the days and weeks were each a slightly smaller slice of the total. So the progression continued as I became an adult.
Now I’m in my 70s. Each day is a much smaller slice of my total time here. And I’m doing many more things for the *last* time than for the first. I’m not surprised the last year has been a blink.

Incredible perspective 🙌 Thank you for sharing your insight ❤️☀️

I have noticed that when we go away on holiday for a fortnight, the first week passes much slower than the second. When we go away for only one week, the time still seems to pass slowly – the second half doesn’t rush by. I think that this has to do with novelty factor. The first seven days are more of a novelty than the last 7. Similarly a weekend away seems far longer than one spent at home doing the usual things. If we want time to pass more slowly perhaps we should try to break up the routine with new experiences.

Thank you so much for your efforts and helping us answer our most important and complex questions!
I’m feeling better now that I know what’s the reason why time pass this quickly…I’m 23 though…

The Denman Effect

Christopher Denman drops in
Punctually once a year,
Yet surprised I always am
Him earlier to behold.
This anomaly in time
I will name, ‘ The Denman Effect ‘,
For Denman shows me that time
Flows faster as one grows old!

Boghos L. Artinian

Psychologist William James, in his 1890 text Principles of Psychology, wrote that as we age, time seems to speed up because adulthood is accompanied by fewer and fewer memorable events. When the passage of time is measured by “firsts” (first kiss, first day of school, first family vacation), the lack of new experiences in adulthood, James morosely argues, causes “the days and weeks [to] smooth themselves out…and the years grow hollow and collapse.
I agree with William James from this 130 year old thesis. There is little “newness”, and a lack of things to “look forward to” as we get older. This is particularly true after age 65 (ish). Once retired, we have no “firsts” to excite us, and wait in anticipation for. At age 67, I am grateful to “look forward” vicariously, to the life events of my grandchildren (7 of them)…I look forward to passing along all the love and knowledge obtained throughout my own life. It is really perception, in the end. Another post stated that if our lifespan was 150 + years, this would be different.

With the passing of time & the speed at which it increases as time passes, my biggest regret is turning down endless opportunities to sleep with woman. I married very young & am a faithful, loving husband, but man I turned my back on so many pretty girls & free rides. Eat up everything you can that’s my advice.

Get rid of your computer, phone and TV. Read new books, go for walks. Time will slow dramatically.

I believe time passes more slowly when someone else is responsible for your well-being, you don’t have adult worries/responsibilities, and therefore you’re always in the moment. Mindfulness (or being in the moment) makes life seem longer and time seem slower. Once you reach adulthood and you’re constantly worried about things and planning ahead, you stop being in the moment. You’re always thinking and planning instead of just existing in the moment. Think about the way a toddler can lay down on the floor and stare at a bug moving or half an hour. Time goes slower for them because they are in the moment. And that’s it.

We are like an objects falling to the ground, the closer to the ground the grater the speed of the object. We begin to fall at the moment of conception. We are the object falling, time is the speed we are falling at…. the ground is death

This isn’t why time seems to fly by. This is just an analogy.

I think we think and worry too much and that makes us start living in fear. Trust in God. He is in charge. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is uncertain. Smile and find things to be grateful for. Being happy makes a big difference.

Unpopular opinion, but still an opinion.
I wish I had that remote control from that movie Click. I want to fast-forward my life 15 years and be retired. And then, do whatever I want, whatever that is, as I want it, whenever I want it, without having to wake up early and see the same old stupid faces at work, having to deal with more ungrateful patients.
Apart from working in a hospital, I have been a patient myself since my unnecessary birth. Going into and coming out of hospitals my entire life. Renal issues. Being anxious to do medical exams every month to see if I have stable results, to adjust medication intake.

I don’t want to anger anyone by saying this but to any who suggests that God loves me, I have tried the god thing and it doesn’t work. To anyone who might say that there are worse things out there, there is nothing godly about that.

15 years. Everyone says how fast time goes by. I even started counting the days one by one, till my retirement. And they seem infinite.

I don’t have children and I don’t want any. I just need to pass the rest of my life peacefully. My life may be boring then when I get retired.
But at least it will be boring without obligations.

I’m 42 this year, and time goes by so much faster than let’s say 22.my 30’s flew by very fast! Where’d they go.

I also find you fear death less as you age, or is that just me? I once feared death as a child, but I honestly don’t anymore.

So much changes as we age! Developmental psychology plays a role imo.

I fear death very much! The loss of my parents, husband, brother, even pets. Spirituality comforts me. I don’t want to cease to exist. To not be conscious. Though I have been Depressed, I would never want to never “BE”… As am Empath I get many messages and know things that I couldn’t possibly know. So it gives me faith.

times go by fast I seemed cant collect my goals “meet goals” before I get too old so please explain to me how to get it done?

The theory I align closely to on why time seems to move faster as we get older is closer to perception and your own collection of new experiences.

While growing up, most experiences are new – so they get captured and stored, we can look back and think about all the fun stuff we did. So the perception is that time was dragged out longer, while in actuality you were just experiencing more new events which your brain would process and put into storage banks. Every year in school would be different, different classes, different extra activities, different teachers and sometimes different kids to meet or schools entirely. This all adds up to new experiences constantly. We learned, interacted and did a LOT in those years that were less tedious as we have gotten older.

Now, we go to the same job/career and perform the same routines over and over. We pay our bills, we cook dinner, we take care of the kids, we clean the house and so on. These things do change, but for the most part they are the same day in and day out. That is why, when you ask someone what they did last week – They have to struggle to remember, because these tedious motions that we mostly play on repeat all merge together. And before you know it, another year is down and you are wondering where the heck the time went.

Anyone that has gone through a huge life change, via loss of a loved one or loss of a job which dramatically changed their life will probably never say – “This was the fastest year of my life!”. That is because the events of your life have made you stop, focus and pay attention to what is going on which drags things out. Once things settle and you get back into the “rhythm” of life, it will speed up again.

Also, if you are in a career/job that you hate and are always looking forward to the weekend – Then you are speeding up your life by always looking for the future and not enjoying it on the daily. You are living for 2 days off per week instead of enjoying the full 7.

That is my thoughts on it.

Thanks for reading!

A child sleeps in such a profound manner that when they awaken, they awaken like a new born in comparison to an aged person so that even the day before feels like much more like a remote past than it does as we age. Its not that they don’t remember what happened the day before but that the weight off it has been removed overnight (all things being equal).

One cannot remember this under normal conditions that this was our experience in later life because it is alien to the momentum of our current experience. Having said that one can rediscover this phenomena of being “washed clean” in sleep patterns in later life which has the exact same effect. One can leave work on Friday and then return on Monday with the sensation that one had been away for vastly extended period, as if one had gone on a distant all engulfing vacation over several months.

The exact mechanism I could not explain but am convinced it is, like a dream that goes for a few minutes but in its passage of time feels like it lasted several days. Is fundamentally related to our relationship to sleep.

As we age this capacity for sleep to profoundly regenerate us becomes encrusted to the point where days merge into a virtual break less continuum giving the sensation that things are passing faster without any real pause.

excuse the typos, my friends, the gist is there.

I’m a (soon) 15 year old, and since the last school year started the time flies so fast. It’s monday and right away it’s friday again, which makes me kinda sad, because I like school and I don’t want to leave already.

How fascinating…
This has been on my mind as a child. I was drawn to my elderly neighbors at age 10. They became my best friends. I told my mother at age 12: we are ALL the same age. We just get there at different times. I have always had a very strong urging and thoughts about various subjects, especially the human existence. I am in tune spiritually and emotionally.

My 2c on this issue is that when we are old/older we already master all the routines we go by during the day/week/month/year. Theres not much learning of anything at all. Try enrolling in a new university course or new challenging online course to see how things shift. Cheers from Vancouver, Canada.

I’m 57 I thought time was starting to fly buy in my 40’s onward. I read that it was due to us having a decline in Melatonin. So I got some tablets and take them from time to time. I don’t seem to perceive time flying by anymore….

I think the doctor has a valid point. When you are a child and younger not only your mind will process everything faster and make decisions faster. So growing older all of it will slow down and tasks that used to take you no time take you longer and longer. At least for me since I’ve always been doer and wanting to experience new things and generally do stuff my time seems to be measured by accomplishments in my mind. Days I do nothing just mean nothing and are wiped out of the timeline.
The workday when I was younger it was exiting and I was thinking about it already taking a shower in the morning and it never felt like work. Nowadays I feel I just go to work and don’t learn anything and at the end of the day it was just another workday that doesn’t need to be on my timeline of the memories. So it gets wiped out and surely takes about half of the waking hours out.
Just my thoughts and been thinking it long time. In purpose I do lots of activities since I realize time is passing by but even then the fact remains, when you age you slow down and the activities take longer so with less experiences to remember time seems to have moved faster.

I think the reason time goes by faster as an adult, is simply because we are orienting our lives based on a block type schedule rather than simply living in the moment as children do. We are always anticipating the next day, and the next goal. Whether it be yearning for Friday to come on a Monday or planning a big move a year ahead, hating your job and zoning out to get through the day, commuting. It all seems to become so automatic that the time it takes to actually do these things seems to pass by so quickly.

Our perception of time is based on our value of time. When we are young we don’t think about the past we can only think of what is ahead of us, therefore we wish the time to speed up. As we age, we reminisce on past times and realize our days are dwindling away from us. Which leaves us wanting more and realizing the value of each day that passes. I teach my children to value each age that u become because u only get it once, also not to wish the days away because before we know it, they will be gone.

Our perception of time is based on our value of time. When we are young we don’t think about the past we can only think of what is ahead of us, therefore we wish the time to speed up. As we age, we reminisce on past times and realize our days are dwindling away from us. Which leaves us wanting more and realizing the value of each day that passes. I teach my children to value each age that u become because u only get it once, also not to wish the days away because before we know it, they will be gone.

As we grow older, it can often feel like time goes by faster and faster. … This is what leads to time passing more rapidly. When we are young, each second of actual time is packed with many more mental images. Like a slow-motion camera that captures thousands of images per second, time appears to pass more slowly.
The Earth is moving faster than it ever has in the last 50 years, scientists have discovered, and experts believe that 2021 is going to be the shortest year in decades. … This is because the Earth is spinning faster on its axis quicker than it has done in decades and the days are therefore a tiny bit shorter.
On July 19, 2020, the actual day on Earth was 1.4602 milliseconds shorter than a full 24 hours, making it the shortest day ever recorded. Since then, the record short day has been broken a total of 28 times. Now in 2021, days are spinning faster, nearly 0.5 milliseconds shorter than a full 24 hours.
that’s the fact😁

Something I’ve noticed, when you are perceiving a new experience, time seems to slow as you’re working harder to understand and take on the new information, but once you experience that same thing again, you already know what to expect, so it’s not particularly memorable or worth much thought, and so it seems to pass faster, as we get older we collect more experiences, and so are very likely to experience the same things day to day, and why would we remember every single repetition of what we already know from the first experience?
The real secret to a long life is filling every day with new experiences, making memories.

Simpler answer…… When you are 10 years old 1 year is 1 tenth of you
existence. When you are 50 year old 5 years is 1 tenth of your existence.
So going from 10 years old to 11 – feels the same as going from 50 year old to 55.
(living 1/10 more of your total existence) So of course, 1 year at age 55 feels faster
than 1 year at age 10.

My mom has always complained about how everyday felt faster and what seemed to be happened a long time ago she said she swore happened last week. I’m in ninth grade now and I know I’m younger than most people here, but I feel like my mom was right and time does feel so much faster obviously not that everything is speeding up it’s just that I swore I only started processing January to March 2021 and now it’s December, I don’t remember experiencing any other month only doing little things here and there, but certainly not enough memories for 9 months. I don’t like how I am just watching life pass me before I can realize it and I try hard to remember my experiences so I have a time stamp to sort of return to it and know that that month actually happened. Maybe it was the pandemic but I was just 12 in March 2020 and now I’m going to graduate freshman year.

It is a strange companion we travel through Life with,
this rapscalion Time.
In our early youth, she demurs and seems to take forever to pass,
But yet, when we learn the ropes of Life,
this temptress, Time, seems to take on a hurried gate.
Even then, we often find that she has tricked us and ran on ahead,
Surprising us with fleeting moments
which flit from now to yesterday to yesteryear in a blink.
As we learn enough to sit in wisdom
and contemplate Time’s journey at our side,
We yearn for the frolic of youth when she seemed to take forever,
Yet even now we give homage to Time for remaining with us,
And offering us whatever yesterdays and tomorrows that she so deigns.

K. Ready circa 2021

They told me to follow the science yet there is no consensus on the time speeding up phenomenon. All I know is that my physical experience is more rich and meaningful because I have faith that when my time is up, I will no longer be bound by the limits of time.

Bullsheeve as you age and find time is greater and your fullfilment within that time is diminished you succumb. Purpose in life is the only thing that is going to keep you alive and time in perspective.

Reall interesting phenomenon. I remember, when I was a kid, the movies seems to be last much longer than they do now. Tow hours of the movie used to seem like a 6 hour of intense watch time, now days seems to be pass like an hour.

Inspired by this article, we tried to do a video on it, I hope you’ll like it: https://youtu.be/VigCbcLjm_0

I think it’s related to soul development. The older you grow, the more you experience, and your soul develops as well. This speeds up the time that you experience as a person. So in your next reincarnation, the environment time-stamp also speeds up.

More time is slower, not faster.

The first question is: what is time. We perhaps define as the duration between events and select what we perceive as events that that are stable. The movement of the earth, the sun or atoms in atomic clocks. Whatever we use; they are observable within our world, solar system and universe. Outside the universe is unknown, unexplored and anyones guess. Light is the sacred fundamental measurement of something alongside gravity. But what would we observe if we didn’t exist in a world of light and gravity? Imagine if our world was at the bottom of the deepest ocean: the abyss, no light and gravity exists, but the the water effective disguises it. Time clearly exist, because things happen. There is a duration of time between events but how would they be measured?
If you are aware of your own existence, then the length of your life is how you can perceive it. To a three year old a year is a long time ie a third of their living memory, but to an eighty year old, a year is ony an 80th of their living memory. As a general rule: size seems important for lifespan and the slower the activity the longer the life. Ultimately, totally inanimate objects like rocks and mountains stay around for millions of years, but I have no ambition to be one.

It’s all illusion. My experience is that things that happened two weeks ago feel like an eternity. I think it also has to do with consciousness eg. You’re driving and suddenly realize you went five miles (daydreaming?) and how does that differ from dreaming what we dream while asleep? Soon none it will matter as technology encroaches more and more on our ” experience”. The tech giants have us right where they want after all how could we survive sans cellphones, tablets, games it’s dizzying. I digress.

Wow, the comments on this article is absolutely full of craziness.

I don’t know why people think they have the knowledge and experience to refute a paper by an actual expert, the dunning kruger effect is quite apparent.

The amount of pseudoscientific nonsense also present should really warm people off of this website.

I just woke up from a dream where I asked Biden logical questions and he had a legitimate rebuttal instead of his usual incoherent babble. Im having chest pains smelling onions, as I woke up, having gas and can’t fart, maybe it’s the taco bell. I’ve thought about time and perception for a long time. I feel like I’m autistic and my brain seems to function super fast but time seems to speed up and slow down for me. I’ve thought about rotation of the earth being faster. When I quit smoking for 9 months it felt as though I would sleep for 15 hours but time was slow. Lately time is flying I think it’s a separation of mind and body like your mental state, or your cognitive function vs your mental outlook and cognitive function. I can’t explain that but I use to daydream for twenty minutes after I woke up when I was younger I remember putting one sock on and thinking about all kinds of shit in ten min. Then putting the other sock on and repeating. I also remembering an article about earths rotation was faster due to man made things on earth idk. Females are not equal to men and the political agenda and the way people think is going backwards. Females are different and have specific jobs that men can not do, especially multi tasking. “I identify as” is the same as “I pretend to be”. Instead of useless shit we see everyday from tv and thought police, why not use the portion of your brain to create more expression through common sense instead of idiocy. Idk I need to fart bad. I’m going to try to sleep now. My point was now that women have blue hair and are professional victims men no longer serve their purpose and will die younger. Without purpose there is no life…… We have to stop these climate change enthusiasts instead of bitching about it. I honestly believe you shouldn’t be on the internet unless you pass a test to use it. Seriously. It would be very beneficial to stupid people and give them purpose. Without purpose and routine time will fly.

A well experienced sales person can do this job only effectively. People who are not sure about outcome based selling should give it a visit. They will be find it very useful.

Oh my gosh. I think you’re all overthinking this. I don’t buy this theory at all. It’s not my perceptions that are off, it’s that it takes longer to do things and we get distracted and daydream more when we are older. I find myself daydreaming, standing there doing nothing, lost in thought and the next thing I know 5 minutes have past and I accomplished nothing. You have less energy and more pain and mobility issues so everything is harder to do so it all takes longer. You simply get less done in an hour than you used to. So you run out of time to do things and the day seems shorter. The other issue this article does not address is that it seems to be affecting everyone regardless of age. The years just seem to be flying by. Two recent examples…locally recent events reminded people of a past event that happened 4 years ago but numerous people of varying ages all commented that it happened a couple of years ago. As I was having the same feeling, I checked for the actual date and it was 4 years ago to the month. Mentioning that surprised everyone. The other example…an incident happened two weeks ago but in conversation we all kept saying “last week” and acting like it had happened a week ago, but after looking at my calendar I realized it was 2 weeks to the day that it happened. Again, the people involved are of varying ages. I would expect that the older the person is, the more inaccurate the perception of time passage would be, but that is not the case. That is why I reject this article’s theory. I just don’t see it manifesting in real life. Something else is going on. Could be all the wifi and cellphone signals and all the different forms of technological radiation we are exposed to constantly. Or could also be due to our constant bombardment of incoming information via TV, radio, phones, internet, any mobile device, etc. We never really have time to ourselves to just relax. There is always something to do. We’re constantly go go go all day. It didn’t used to be like that. I remember getting bored a lot. I haven’t been bored in years. I’m 51.

Is there an easy way to stub out time.Now() globally during test?

Part of Go Language Collective

Part of our code is time sensitive and we need to able to reserve something and then release it in 30-60 seconds etc, which we can just do a time.Sleep(60 * time.Second)

I have just implemented time interface and during test use a stubbed implementation of the time interface, similar to this golang-nuts discussion.

However, time.Now() is called in multiple sites which means we need to pass a variable around to keep track of how much time we have actually slept.

I was wondering if there is an alternative way to stub out time.Now() globally. Maybe making a system call to change the system clock?

Maybe we can write our own time package which basically wraps around the time package but allows us to change it?

Our current implementation works well, I am a go beginner and I am curious to see if anyone has other ideas?

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With implementing a custom interface you are already on the right way. I take it you use the following advise from the golang nuts thread you’ve posted:

and provide a concrete implementation

Changing the system time while making tests (or in general) is a bad idea. You don’t know what depends on the system time while executing tests and you don’t want to find out the hard way by spending days of debugging into that. Just don’t do it.

There is also no way to shadow the time package globally and doing that would not do anything more you couldn’t do with the interface solution. You can write your own time package which uses the standard library and provides a function to switch to a mock time library for testing if it is the time object you need to pass around with the interface solution that is bothering you.

The best way to design and test your code would probably be to make as much code stateless as possible. Split your functionality in testable, stateless parts. Testing these components separately is much easier then. Also, less side effects means that it is much easier to make the code run concurrently.

Screen Time Statistics: Your Smartphone Is Hurting You

By: Rochi Zalani Last updated: July 29, 2022

If you’re like most people, your smartphone is the first thing you check in the morning and the last thing you check before you sleep.

You also pick it up several times during the day either in a bid to find out what your friends are up to, to get your mind off a stressful project, to feel better about your overflowing inbox, or to rid yourself of boredom in the toilet.

But, not all the time you spend on your phone is hurting you, of course. Phones can help you stay connected with family far away, can help you track your productivity each day, and can also help you stay informed about everything, from the upcoming elections to the Kardashians.

But it’s no secret that sometimes (or, most of the time) your smartphone can affect your productivity. Notification beeps can hinder your focus, social comparison on social media can make you feel shoddy about your own life, and did you see how Khloe celebrated her daughter’s birthday during the quarantine? Ugh.

So, how much phone time are you exposing yourself to during a workday (especially, considering you might be working from home right now)?

Let’s look at a few screen time statistics to find out.

How Much Time Does The Average Person Spend On Their Phone?

Whether you’re looking for iPhone screen time or android screen time, here are a few statistics on screen time to answer your questions.

Let’s spread out geographically and look at the amount of time spent by people from different countries.

That’s roughly 50 days a year.

But averages can be tricky, so let’s read more into these numbers.

Phone Addiction: How Often Do We Check Our Phones?

4. The data of 11,000 RescueTime users shows that the top 20% of smartphone users spend more than 4.5 hours on their phones during weekdays.

While we are at it, the average person spends more time on their phone during their weekday than they do during weekends.

But, how does it matter how much time we’re spending on our phones? Maybe it’s because we’re catching up on a new season of a Netflix show. It’s not during work hours when someone compulsively uses their smartphone, you know.

Well, I’m glad you asked.

So, no, your total screen time is not impacting your efficiency, it’s how often you are picking up your phone and getting distracted.

If you think it doesn’t matter how many times you pick up your phone, think again.

6. Most people spend roughly 1 minute 15 seconds on their phone once they pick it up. And we pick our phones up roughly every 1 hour and 43 minutes.

From a lower-end estimate, this equates to losing 37.5 minutes a day during working hours to your smartphone.

7. 70% of the phone-pick-up sessions are less than 2 minutes in length. But they can start a chain reaction. 50% of screen time sessions start within 3 minutes of the previous one.

But, why does it even matter?

The act of compulsive checking can be hazardous to our productivity.

9. AMA found that even brief mental blocks can cause you to lose as much as 40% of your productive time.

If you think most of the time you spend on your phone is done doing “productive” activities, the in-depth study by CodeComputerLove will prove otherwise.

Don’t start blaming the Millenials just yet. It’s not just them who are addicted to their phones.

11. While it might seem like a significant difference when taken per day, each generation spends over a month on their phone per year.

So, no one is immune to the harmful effects our smartphones have on our mental health and productivity. And the coronavirus has only made things worse.

COVID-19 And ScreenTime

12. Study by eMarketer has found that owing to the pandemic, electronic device usage nearly doubled among kids in the US.

14. A study conducted in China found that about 70% of the 1033 participants spent more time looking at screens after the COVID-19 outbreak.

15. Another study, examining the effects of COVID-19 on adolescents and young adults, found that the average screentime has increased from 3.5 hours to 5.1 hours.

16. A study published in Cambridge Open Engage collected data from more than 3,000 Iowa State University faculty, staff, students, and alumni located all over the country from April 3 to 7 and found that screentime had increased by 20-30% on average during the crisis.

Since the crisis and our screens aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, it is by taking control of our digital well-being that we can use screens to our advantage.

How To Reduce Your Average Screen Time?

Here are some quick steps to reduce your average screen time and get more work and productivity out of every day.

Track your screen time : You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Thankfully, there are many tools like RescueTime and Time Doctor that can help you monitor you screen time and even block distracting websites.

Do a smartphone cleanse : Delete apps you don’t truly use or get benefit from. You do not need social media apps on your phone. While we are at a smartphone cleanse, maintain a minimalist home screen. Only let the frequently needed apps remain. By retaining the minimum, you will not get sucked into the scrolling rabbit hole.

Set your screen to appear monochrome during work hours : It is shocking how much the colors keep us glued in. Instagram wouldn’t seem so pretty if all was in black and white. Facebook would lose its appeal with the loss of color. Turn on your phone’s grayscale mode when you work.

Turn off your phone’s notifications : Most of the things which grab your attention can wait. If you answer a particular text a little late, no one will mind. The email can wait until later too. It’s the red dot and buzz which kill your flow and focus. You can open them when you have the time – and respond at your own pace.

Allot times for no devices : Spend an hour or two each day or week where you don’t check your phone or any other device. During the time you set aside, you could cook, read, write, walk, nap – do anything except checking your phone. You won’t miss much in an hour, but your mind will feel brand new.

Fix a time for checking your media platforms and your email : Organize your schedule with some social media time. During the allotted time, all you will do is check your accounts and reply to emails. Log the time into your calendar and stick to it. Your brain will adapt to checking them concurrently every day. You can also rid yourself of all the guilt caused by the frequent scrolling when you’re not supposed to.

Resist the temptation to check your phone during the first hour of morning and night : Screens disrupt your melatonin production, which in turn affects the quality of your sleep. Poor sleep quality will be evident in your mood, performance, and productivity. An hour before bedtime, put your phone away.

Final Thoughts

Screens aren’t completely awful. If used correctly, they can contribute more to our efficiency. The key is to not let them get the best of us.

Understanding screen time and its effect on our work can take us a step closer to digital wellbeing.