Why does time pass more quickly when you get older?

Sugar_Rush

I get incredibly nostalgic and melancholic about this.

I'm not going to disclose my age but it literally felt like yesterday I was 10 years younger and thinking about it overwhelms me with melancholia.

"Old age is privilege many never get to experience".

This may be true but honestly serves as little comfort.

.......

In relation to the actual question and providing a substantive explanation:

Time passes more quickly as we age because our perception of time is based upon new experiences. Every time we experience or learn something for the first time it creates a "time stamp" in our consciousness. The more "time stamps" we create, the more memories we create, thus time seems longer. As we age we experience less new things for the first time, we tend to fall into repetitive schedules with nothing new in them, time just flies by.

This is why time seems to be much longer when we're younger. Kids are doing so many things for the first time every day.

This can be offset when we get older by forcing ourselves to do new things every day, having new experiences. Forcing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

I think this is sound.

And especially things becoming repetitive.

Like going to college was a world of new experiences every single year and I look back and cherish that time so dearly.

Since then it's been a whirlwind and I'm scratching my head thinking "10 years. Really!!??"

Sugar_Rush

Prof David Sinclair (may have seen him on Joe Rogan's talk show) is a researcher exploring life extension.

Staying younger for longer.

It will be a revolution in science if something tangible in this field of investigation emerges.

dotsman

It's also because time is relative.

Firstly, let's assume you don't really remember much from your first 5 years of life so that gets discounted.

In the 2 years from 8 to 10, that's 40% of your life

In the 2 years from 13 to 15, that's 10% of your life

In the 2 years from 43 to 45, that's just 2.5% of your life

In the 2 years from 83 to 85, that's just 1.25% of your life.

EmmetSpiceland

The more mass you gain the faster you move through time, or time moves around you.

SuperBowserWorld

Your brain is great at compressing and storing information, probably in ways we'll not understand for a long time.

So, all those same experiences are compressed into 1. Your brain is probably storing only the differences in 4 dimensions.

Or maybe we are living in a simulation and as you get older you are given less experiences as their is not enough storage space in the celestial cloud or enough to go round.

Basically, you are getting to the end of the game and have done most of the main story and side quests.

Sugar_Rush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119146295#Comment_119146295

I skeptical of this rationale (many others believe it also)

Cause as a toddler time fucking zoomed by

School age cause of the intellectual application into managing all that, time fucking crawled.

After school, routine of work, time is back to zooming by again.

Jim_Hodge

You're just having too good a time of it. Time flies when you're having fun.

billyhead

You create more memories when your younger.

Bobblehats

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119146388#Comment_119146388

So make new ones. What are ya gonna do, keep reliving the same ferry trip as a child like it wor yesterday and then wondering where the time is gone?! Listen I’m in the same boat.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119146339#Comment_119146339

How does that work for non catholics?

Potential-Monke

I dunno. My life has worked out so that when I'm not at work, I basically don't have much to do. As a result, I get to do what I like the most, play games. And with every new game is a new experience. So to me, time isn't moving that much faster. Just that people load their lives with crap to do, kids, sports, pets, holidays, socialising, home improvement, helping others... When you don't have time to think about the time, then it's gonna go faster for ya. Sit down, relax, tell everyone to sort their own stuff and do experience new things yourself.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

I haven't got time for this.

touts

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119146974#Comment_119146974

This escalated quickly

Strumms

Yes, the older you get the faster it goes..

why ? I suspect the older you are the busier you are…

Sugar_Rush

Yeah after some deliberation;

The conclusion seems to be, new experiences.

Time is slower when you're younger due to constantly encounter new challenges and adversities.

Get older and into the swing of things = repetitive and time just passes like you hardly even notice.

....

So, new challenges, new experiences, do new things = appreciate each moment more.

Without a doubt time has passed more quickly than ever since the beginning of covid lockdowns, most cause each day drifted into the next and just went by in a blur.

The last 4 months went for me so fast it was intimidating - and reason for this is cause I'd started using amphetamine sulphate to assist with academic related activity.

And speed makes things go into warp drive...... not in a good way.

Yesterday I woke up it was February 11th.

Today I woke up and it's June 6th.

Just. Like. That.

ILoveYourVibes

no it doesnt

riclad

https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/no-not-just-time-speeds-get-older/ thats how the mind works, also as we grow older we spend a lot of time doing the same basic routine things, shopping, cleaning, waiting for a bus, driving , when you are a teen you are making new friends

doing new things, you have no responsibilitys . go to school, do homework,

Ray Palmer

OP you got the answer already. Do less new things and there is little to remember to mark the passage of time so your memory of the time is not as filled. Do more new things every day and you will remember more and time will feel longer. Try not to keep remembering or looking back because you are filling your memory of the things that already happened so diminish the new memories and time feels shorter

Bobblehats

As my

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119232455#Comment_119232455

Then by that definition shouldn’t it drag more?

Who’s to know, how any of it works other than as my very wise old father in law says. “Tympass ..”

Sugar_Rush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119236496#Comment_119236496

I would seriously question the rationale in that link.

furiousox

Well when you're 30, ten years is one third of your life but when you're 50 its only one fifth.

That's why the years seem to pass quicker as you get older.

Or something.