Why time flies

Options
leeCal
leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
edited June 2022 in Coffee lounge
Have you ever noticed how the older you get the faster time seems to whizz by? I certainly have and it’s a common phenomenon. Apparently there’s no consensus of opinion on this by psychologists but the following article explains one good theory.

https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/no-not-just-time-speeds-get-older/

(time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana. Groucho Marx)

Comments

  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 63,123 Championing
    Thanks for article, intresting and the comments after it.
    Yes it's a common topic of how time was slower when I was younger, now, it whizzes past so fast. 
  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    I suppose there are one or two advantages to time seeming to go faster @Sandy_123. For example, it’s far easier to save money over time, at least I find it easier. Secondly and for the same reason, I find it easier to wait, even for an hour at the doctors etc but including long waits like six weeks before a holiday or such like. 

    I expect you remember as i do how the six week summer holiday seemed to be soooooo long during our school days, and waiting a year for anything was simply impossible. 

    Actually I’ve often wondered why children grow so much in that six week holiday, perhaps it’s just the sun and rest which helps. Ha ha.
  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    edited June 2022
    That makes a lot of sense @woodbine And I agree with you, I think that is one reason why time flies. The article talks about the time it takes for neurones to process experience and how the more complex the system the longer this process takes. This is a similar explanation actually, whilst processing information about one thing we can’t fully process other information in my opinion.
     Now I can explain why I have a glazed look on my face when someone is talking to me for too long!

    its a question I've been wanting an answer to for years. 
  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 63,123 Championing
    Yeah as a kid time almost stood still, but like grandkids ask how many sleeps to so and so,  seems ages to them. 
    I often wonder how not so long back I was a small child running round, now I'm 52 and all those years have left