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Why the days feel shorter as you get older, according to science
AOL.com • • science
Key Points:
- Research shows that the perception of time speeding up with age is due to a misalignment between "mental-image time" and actual clock time, meaning our minds perceive time differently than the literal passage of hours and days.
- Five key factors contribute to this phenomenon: proportional theory (each year is a smaller fraction of life as we age), novelty deficit (fewer new memories due to routine), attention absorption (autopilot during familiar tasks), emotional flattening (less impactful emotions), and changes in dopamine levels affecting time perception.
- Experts suggest that creating new experiences, breaking routines, and engaging in novel activities can help slow down the subjective feeling of time passing quickly as we grow older.
