The passage of time is a puzzling thing. While few will dispute that a minute comprises 60 seconds, the perception of time can vary dramatically from person to person and from one situation to the next. Time can race, or it can drag interminably. On rare occasions, it feels as if it’s standing still. As we get older, our brains process information more slowly, leading to a perception of fewer mental images per unit of time, making time feel faster. Also, the more we age, the more our lives tend to become structured and filled with routines, leading to less novelty and a blurring of days and weeks. This lack of distinct memories can also contribute to the feeling that time is passing quicker. A year to a 5-year-old represents a larger portion of their life compared to a year for a 60-year-old, leading to a perception of time passing faster. Routine and predictability in daily life can make days and weeks feel similar, further diminishing the feeling that time is passing quickly. In addition, our brains tend to compress memories, highlighting the most significant events and leaving out details, which can make it seem like more time has passed. Improving cognitive abilities, especially attention and memory, can help us fine-tune our internal pacemakers. In fact, it may help us to bring the fast river of time to a slow meander.
