Does time go quicker as you get older?

bonzodog2 · 18-04-2011 12:19AM

WHOOOSH! There goes another year. It gets worse.

Yahew · 18-04-2011 12:19AM

bonerm wrote: »

No time goes at exactly the same rate, but indeed it seems to pass more quickly.

Not only does each successive year represent a smaller percentage of your total life up to that point (which has an effect on your perception) but as you go progress in life also do you spend an increasing amount of your day to day life 'occupied' with things. Just take an average job. It represents around 2000 hours of your year and perhaps another 250-500 hours commuting to/from it. Compare that to your first year of school where you probably spent around 750 hours a year in class and maybe hardly any time getting to it if you were local. That's just one aspect of your day and you can already see how your time is just getting eaten away.

The way to slow down your life, then, is to do lots of different things ( and not commute). That works. Think about a 3 week holiday, or the first 3 weeks at an intense job, or course, compared to the mundane 3 weeks in an average job.

LETHAL LADY · 18-04-2011 12:26AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

From me it does, the past twenty years have has zipped by. The 90's flashed by me after I left school and the whole hoopla of the millennium and Y2K stuff seems like only a few years back. For other personal reasons it all also does not seem to be over twenty years that have passed. Crazy to think that this time 20 years ago I was looking forward to Féile, Trip to Tipp.

When I was around 18 (1991) I really got into to listening to Bob Seger and used to listen to his stuff all the time, driving around with mates in my old man's car. Remember so clearly the line in one song: "Twenty years now, where'd they go, twenty years, I don't know.." and thinking to myself that no way would I ever feel like that, sure I'd be an old man then anyway.

Still love the song .. just it resonates more with me now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keIvA2wSPZc

I remember the trip to tipp

.

Stained Class · 18-04-2011 12:37AM

Well, at this stage, I know my children's ages more than my own!

I'm 42, & it took a few seconds before I could think of it.

I don't really think that my kids are my 'replacements'. Hell, I might live another 40 years.

I sometimes wonder what It's like for my parents though........

Dwellingdweller · 18-04-2011 01:40AM

jesus fuck I hope not. I want my life to be a big drawn-out affair. of the extramarital sort.

18-04-2011 04:45AM

The two years work I did after college disappeared in the blink of an eye and I could only pick out a few memories from that time. A few good nights out, a couple of girls, some funny times in work and my beautiful beautiful car.
The 7/8 months since then feel alot longer and I've thousands of memories to look back on.. Alot of stuff has happened and alot of stuff has been done in that time.

I guess that's one big aspect of it.. The older you get, the more repetitive and less note-worthy stuff gets if you work/sleep/work/sleep. Makes me wonder about the best way to approach the whole "life" thing.. Stable income with a wife and kids or try to wander around the world on and off for the next 30 years.

Savage Tyrant · 18-04-2011 04:56AM

When you are 10 years old, waiting a full year for the next Christmas represents a very sizeable portion of your life. But when you're nearing 30 as I am too Dlofnep, then it's a much smaller portion and the perception you have of it.
I was just talking with a lad watching the Celtic match today and we ended up discussing mobile phones. One particular phone popped to mind and when I looked it up, it had been released in 2001. 10 years ago and it certainly doesn't feel that long.

Azureus · 18-04-2011 07:08AM

My mam always told me 'time flied the second you hit 21' and I agree with her! I think for me it was probably more 18 though, starting college, getting independent. Everythings just flown since then!
Ok so Im only 23 now, but went to capitol bar the other night and was just thinking that my current boyfriend used to get in there all the time and I never would because it was +21s and I was only 18/19. Now I go there regularly. Seems weird to think 4/5 years have passed when it feels like only a matter of months. Same with holidays;feel like my last one was recently but when I think about it it was april 09.

TeddyTedson · 18-04-2011 07:11AM

Azureus wrote: »

My mam always told me 'time flied the second you hit 21' and I agree with her! I think for me it was probably more 18 though, starting college, getting independent. Everythings just flown since then!
Ok so Im only 23 now, but went to capitol bar the other night and was just thinking that my current boyfriend used to get in there all the time and I never would because it was +21s and I was only 18/19. Now I go there regularly. Seems weird to think 4/5 years have passed when it feels like only a matter of months. Same with holidays;feel like my last one was recently but when I think about it it was april 09.

I could have posted that except im 24 and a man with penis.
Where is time going?

Claasman · 18-04-2011 07:20AM

TeddyTedson wrote: »

a man with penis.

Thanks for that info, we were all worried there for a second

Sinfonia · 18-04-2011 09:56AM

adrian hyde wrote: »

Don't worry. My da says when you retire it starts to slow down again.

bonerm wrote: »

Just take an average job. It represents around 2000 hours of your year and perhaps another 250-500 hours commuting to/from it.

You guys are making compelling arguments for me quitting my job today.
I probably won't though...
Maybe I'll watch Fight Club tonight and quit tomorrow

Azureus · 18-04-2011 10:22AM

TeddyTedson wrote: »

I could have posted that except im 24 and a man with penis.
Where is time going?

I dont know but I want it back. I say we start a petition for some kinda time refund scheme...
Or get a dolorean and have something to show for it.

Mr Benevolent · 18-04-2011 10:51AM

It's scary to think that in less than 12 years I'll be 40. People say life starts at 40. I think they're having the craic!

I noticed aswell, I start to get alot more sentimental about nostaglia. Like the sound of a cartoon can make me teary-eyed.

What the fuck? I'm 31 and nostalgia is 30 years away.

Poor Craythur · 18-04-2011 11:23AM

Dudess wrote: »

Most definitely. The fact 2005 is six years ago blows my mind...

2005 is the year that gets me too!

Poor Craythur · 18-04-2011 11:31AM

Naikon wrote: »

Thankfully for us men, age is almost a plus:pac:

That depends on how well you look after yourself.

Any man thinking he's getting better with age whilst cultivating a nice ever-expanding beer gut or middle age spread is deluding himself! :pac:

kfallon · 18-04-2011 11:34AM

Poor Craythur wrote: »

That depends on how well you look after yourself. Any man thinking he's getting better with age whilst cultivating a nice ever-expanding beer gut or middle age spread is deluding himself! :pac:

But they are getting better......getting better at retaining alcohol :pac:

Time does fly, it's nearly 11 years since I moved out of home, seems like only 3 or 4!

nyarlothothep · 18-04-2011 12:21PM

The whole fractional argument about ones life, ie 1/25 of your life is faster than 1/5, if you can only recall, lets say for the sake of argument, about a years worth of memory across your life, and say when you were younger it was roughly the same or even less, then wouldn't the perception of time actually be the same? Whereas the reaction might be different, for example when you're 5 you have 20 years until your 25 whereas when you're 25 you have 25 years until your 50, therefore you become more aware of the precious time slipping away, like money, if you have loads you don't worry about spending it, whereas if you're less well off you're very conscious about how fast it goes.

Captain Darling · 18-04-2011 12:27PM

nyarlothothep wrote: »

The whole fractional argument about ones life, ie 1/25 of your life is faster than 1/5, if you can only recall, lets say for the sake of argument, about a years worth of memory across your life, and say when you were younger it was roughly the same or even less, then wouldn't the perception of time actually be the same? Whereas the reaction might be different, for example when you're 5 you have 20 years until your 25 whereas when you're 25 you have 25 years until your 50, therefore you become more aware of the precious time slipping away, like money, if you have loads you don't worry about spending it, whereas if you're less well off you're very conscious about how fast it goes.

Took me a while, but i think i got it.

Cú Giobach · 18-04-2011 01:40PM

Stained Class wrote: »

I'm 42, & it took a few seconds before I could think of it.

I'm "roughly" the same age and have to do a bit of quick mental arithmetic to remember my age too, only noticed it last year, the time is really starting to fly now

An interesting moment is when you realise you're closer to retirement than the leaving cert.

pragmatic1 · 18-04-2011 01:46PM

Definitely OP. I'm the same age as yourself and its crazy how after about 21 the years just fly. Best way to get around it is to pack as much into each day as you can.

Another one that gets me is that the recession is about three years old at this stage.

Fart · 18-04-2011 02:52PM

I'm only 23 and feel like life is flying bye. I no longer find myself going to clubs as I feel to old for them as everyone looks so young nowadays. I'd prefer to go to an "old mans" pub.

Fart · 18-04-2011 02:54PM

Cú Giobach wrote: »

I'm "roughly" the same age and have to do a bit of quick mental arithmetic to remember my age too, only noticed it last year, the time is really starting to fly now

An interesting moment is when you realise you're closer to retirement than the leaving cert.

Aha, that last line made me chuckle...

OMG, I'm chuckling now instead of laughing. :eek:

Chickaroo · 18-04-2011 02:59PM

I think the reason life seems to be going quicker in latter years is because we have alot more to fill our days with e.g. work/hobbies/socialising, plus we always have a goal in sight: break times, lunchtimes, hometimes and all the while wishing for Friday to hurry the fcuk up.....so we kinda just wish our lives away really!!

Aishae · 18-04-2011 03:00PM

as a kid christmas is exciting - it comes around once a year but that feels like a rare thing. but when youre older your busier - perhaps with more routine and a splash of the mundane too. it all blends in together and seems to fly by. i stopped wishing for the exciting things (like holidays) to come a long time ago. it was akin to wishing your life away.

Chairman Meow · 18-04-2011 03:01PM

Most definitely. Time has been just spiralling away from me since my early 20's. At first it just seemed to me like suddenly i never had enough time to do stuff i wanted to do, i assumed it was cause of work, but its been like that now for the best part of 10 years. I just dont have enough time to do stuff i enjoy and it seems like every month just goes by faster and faster.

It was a shock to the system yesterday when i realised ive been out of school for longer than my total time spent in school altogether

niallers1 · 18-04-2011 03:04PM

I know the ages of 18 to 26 were great, just wish I could remember them:)

The more you do the quicker life seems to go by..

The only way to slow it down is to go live on a small tropical island..

AnnyHallsal · 18-04-2011 03:06PM

I told my college students I saw Clueless in the cinema. Their response, "Wow"

+1 to struggling to remember what age you are. Was carded a few months ago (must have been blind

). "What age are you?" "ehh ... 26 .. no, 27, ah no .. 28." "You sure??"

Aishae · 18-04-2011 03:09PM

jaysus - Clueless is considered ancient? - i saw the first Jurassic Park in the cinema when i was 8 or so. does that make me jurassic ? :pac: mad....

Humans eh! · 18-04-2011 03:24PM

Aishae wrote: »

jaysus - Clueless is considered ancient? - i saw the first Jurassic Park in the cinema when i was 8 or so. does that make me jurassic ? :pac: mad....

When I was 10 Star Wars Rocked my world!
Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

It seems like last week, and the opening sequence still gives me a quiver of delight.
But time moves at the same pace all the time, its just your perception of it that varies happiness speeds up while boredom / sadness can appear to drag out the weeks months and years.
Youth is just a fleeting moment and should be enjoyed and lived to the full.

Canis Lupus · 18-04-2011 03:27PM

AnnyHallsal wrote: »

I told my college students I saw Clueless in the cinema. Their response, "Wow"

+1 to struggling to remember what age you are. Was carded a few months ago (must have been blind ). "What age are you?" "ehh ... 26 .. no, 27, ah no .. 28." "You sure??"

I know people that have no idea what The Bartman is and that think Uptown Girl is a song by Westlife etc etc.

Does time go quicker as you get older?

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