Why does time seem to go by so fast as you get older?

Abdullah
2 min readMar 29, 2024

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It is said that time is passing very fast or that it has wings.
Although scientists have not yet been able to give the correct answer as to why people feel that time passes quickly, a study has given a possible answer in this regard.
In this study of the University of Michigan in the United States, it was reported that as we age, we start to feel that time is passing faster.
According to research, as we age, our lives begin to revolve around routines and events that can have a dramatic impact on life are rare.
The researchers said that humans judge time by memorable events and the number of memorable events decreases with age.
This is why most people remember something they do just once more than they do thousands of times.
Research has shown that as children we are always trying to do something new and as a result time seems to pass slowly.
In comparison, middle age tends to be less inclined to do new things and that’s why time seems to fly by so fast. According to researchers, our brains associate similar days and weeks, making it seem like days, weeks or months are passing by very quickly.
As we age, our perception of life experiences changes because the brain needs more time to process new images.
In contrast, our brains in childhood process new details at lightning speed, making days or weeks seem so long.
Changes over time in nerves and neurons play an important role in the perception of time, the researchers said.
He said that as we age, our body systems gradually deteriorate and become more resistant to electrical signals.
But the researchers admit that this is currently our view and more research is needed.
A previous study showed that when you are happy and engaged in an activity you like, time seems to fly by, but when you are bored or sad, it becomes harder to cut time.
The study revealed that our brain processes the perception of time passing at different speeds depending on whether we are busy or distracted.
For example, when you are doing something that has to be done in a certain time or want to achieve a complex goal, time seems to fly.
Similarly, playing a game, watching a good movie or reading a book also passes the time.
During this time, the brain sees different scenarios, which results in time seeming to fly by, and conversely, when you are bored, time slows down for the brain.
According to researchers, the brain has different timing mechanisms, one of which is speeding, which activates brain cells to form a network for an activity.
The faster these cells make their way, the faster time seems to pass.

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Abdullah
Abdullah

Written by Abdullah

I write about various issues, matters linked with our society. Keen to share my point of view through this medium.

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