Slow Down Time
It doesn’t seem just trite to think time is passing more quickly these days. I have a few of my own theories as to why, including excessive screen time (phones, computers, TVs) and forgetting to be grateful. However, through researching this phenomenon, I have come to discover and actualize that the lack of new experiences leads to a distorted perception of time.
From childhood to early adulthood, we have many fresh experiences and learn countless new skills. As adults, though, our lives become more routine, and we experience fewer unfamiliar moments. As a result, our early years tend to be relatively overrepresented in our autobiographical memory and, on reflection, seem to have lasted longer. Of course, this means we can also slow time down later in life. We can alter our perceptions by keeping our brain active, continually learning skills and ideas, and exploring new places.
Do different things as often as you can. Learn something new. Try something new. Go somewhere new. Push yourself. Set a goal, even a silly goal, and work to achieve it. No matter how old you are, your life can still involve the occasional first. And your life can definitely involve any number of "differents." When it does, the passage of time will slow dramatically. The rate of your experiences and accomplishments will increase dramatically.
From childhood to early adulthood, we have many fresh experiences and learn countless new skills. As adults, though, our lives become more routine, and we experience fewer unfamiliar moments. As a result, our early years tend to be relatively overrepresented in our autobiographical memory and, on reflection, seem to have lasted longer. Of course, this means we can also slow time down later in life. We can alter our perceptions by keeping our brain active, continually learning skills and ideas, and exploring new places.
Do different things as often as you can. Learn something new. Try something new. Go somewhere new. Push yourself. Set a goal, even a silly goal, and work to achieve it. No matter how old you are, your life can still involve the occasional first. And your life can definitely involve any number of "differents." When it does, the passage of time will slow dramatically. The rate of your experiences and accomplishments will increase dramatically.
Since the most precious thing any of us has is time... shouldn't that be your goal?
Here are 10 daily suggestions to slow down time:
1. Eat slowly
2. Create morning & evening routines (stretch, sit, think, plan)
3. Meditate
4. Practice mindfulness (be present in each task)
5. Watch less TV
6. Plan to do nothing for 30 minutes
7. Write Parkinson’s Law somewhere you can see it often:
“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”
8. Have an attitude of gratitude
9. Metaphorically toss your phone in the ocean for a half-hour every day
10. Say no (sometimes)
2. Create morning & evening routines (stretch, sit, think, plan)
3. Meditate
4. Practice mindfulness (be present in each task)
5. Watch less TV
6. Plan to do nothing for 30 minutes
7. Write Parkinson’s Law somewhere you can see it often:
“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”
8. Have an attitude of gratitude
9. Metaphorically toss your phone in the ocean for a half-hour every day
10. Say no (sometimes)
And if you’d like a few ideas for different things to try, check these out for starters:
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