Why Does Time Feel Like It Moves Faster As We Get Older Scientific Theories

Most people, at some point in adulthood, have paused and thought: “Where did the year go?” or “Wasn’t summer just starting?” It’s a near-universal experience—time seems to accelerate with age. A decade that once felt endless during childhood now blurs into memory within what feels like months. While this sensation is subjective, it's far from imaginary. Scientists, psychologists, and neurologists have spent decades investigating the phenomenon, uncovering compelling explanations rooted in biology, perception, and cognition. This article explores the leading scientific theories behind why time feels like it speeds up as we grow older—and what we can do to slow it back down.

The Proportional Theory: A Mathematical View of Time

One of the earliest and most enduring explanations comes from 19th-century French philosopher Paul Janet, later refined by psychologists. Known as the \"proportional theory\" or \"Janet’s Law,\" it suggests that our perception of time is relative to the amount of time we’ve already lived.

When you’re five years old, one year represents 20% of your entire life. That same year for a 50-year-old is just 2% of their lived experience. Because each new unit of time becomes a smaller fraction of your total existence, it feels comparatively shorter. This logarithmic relationship means that as we accumulate more years, each subsequent year diminishes in psychological weight.

“Each passing year becomes a smaller fraction of your life, making it feel briefer than the last.” — Dr. William Friedman, Cognitive Psychologist

This theory doesn’t rely on changes in brain function but rather on how we subconsciously compare durations against our accumulated past. The effect is gradual and consistent—each birthday marks not just another year, but another step toward a world where time feels increasingly fleeting.

Neurological Slowdown: The Brain’s Internal Clock

Beyond mathematical proportionality, neuroscience offers physiological explanations. As we age, changes in brain structure and function alter how we process and store temporal information.

The brain’s internal clock, primarily regulated by dopamine-producing neurons in the basal ganglia, tends to slow down over time. Dopamine levels peak in youth and gradually decline with age. Since dopamine helps regulate attention, memory formation, and time estimation, lower levels can lead to fewer “time markers” being recorded throughout the day. Fewer markers mean less data for the brain to look back on, creating the illusion that time passed quickly.

Studies using time-production tasks—where participants estimate when a minute has passed—show that older adults consistently underestimate elapsed time compared to younger individuals. This underestimation suggests their internal clocks are running slower, causing external events to seem to pass more rapidly in comparison.

Tip: Engage in novel experiences regularly. New stimuli boost dopamine and create stronger memory anchors, helping break the monotony that makes time feel fast.

The Role of Memory and Novelty

Another powerful factor is the relationship between memory density and perceived duration. Time feels longer when we look back on periods rich with distinct memories—like the first year of college or a backpacking trip across Europe. In contrast, routine-filled stretches—such as a repetitive work semester—blur together and seem to vanish.

Childhood and adolescence are packed with “firsts”: first day of school, first kiss, first job. Each of these events creates a unique memory trace. The brain encodes novelty more deeply, forming landmarks in our mental timeline. Adulthood, especially after settling into careers and family routines, often lacks such standout moments. Without new reference points, weeks blend into months, and months into years.

Psychologists call this the “holiday paradox”: vacations often feel long while happening due to constant new input, yet seem short in retrospect because they’re compressed into a single narrative. Conversely, a dull month at work may feel interminable day-to-day but disappear entirely in memory.

How Novelty Shapes Our Sense of Time

Life Stage	Novelty Level	Memory Density	Perceived Duration
Childhood	Very High	Dense	Feels Long
Young Adulthood	High	Moderate-High	Feels Moderate
Middle Age	Low-Moderate	Sparse	Feels Fast
Older Adulthood	Low	Very Sparse	Feels Very Fast

The table illustrates how decreasing novelty correlates with faster subjective time. The solution? Introduce deliberate change.

Attention and Routine: The Autopilot Effect

Adult life runs on routines: commute, work, dinner, sleep. These predictable patterns reduce cognitive load, which is efficient—but dangerous for time perception. When actions become automatic, the brain stops paying close attention. Without focused awareness, fewer memories are formed.

Neuroscientist David Eagleman explains that “we don’t so much remember time as we remember what happened in time.” If nothing notable occurs, the brain has little to consolidate. The result? A year of autopilot living leaves almost no trace in memory, making it feel as though it flew by.

This effect is compounded by digital distractions. Constant scrolling, multitasking, and fragmented attention prevent deep engagement with experiences. Moments pass without imprint because we weren’t truly present for them.

Mini Case Study: Sarah’s Wake-Up Call

Sarah, a 42-year-old project manager, noticed that her last birthday felt like it had just passed—even though it was nearly a year ago. She realized she couldn’t recall specific moments from the previous summer. Her days followed the same rhythm: wake up, check email, work calls, pick up kids, cook, watch TV, sleep. After reading about time perception, she began scheduling one novel activity per week—visiting a new museum, trying a cooking class, hiking a different trail. Within months, she reported that time felt “fuller,” and her year-end reflection revealed far more vivid memories. The simple act of breaking routine restored a sense of duration.

Strategies to Slow Down Your Perception of Time

While aging is inevitable, the feeling that time is slipping away isn’t irreversible. By understanding the mechanisms behind accelerated time, we can take practical steps to enrich our experience of it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaiming Time

1. Introduce novelty weekly: Try a new route to work, eat at an unfamiliar restaurant, or learn a few phrases in a new language.
2. Practice mindfulness: Spend 10 minutes daily focusing on your breath or sensory input. This strengthens attention and memory encoding.
3. Limit passive screen time: Replace mindless scrolling with active hobbies like drawing, gardening, or playing music.
4. Create memory landmarks: Take photos, keep a journal, or record voice memos after meaningful moments.
5. Travel or explore locally: Even small trips disrupt routine and stimulate the brain’s time-tracking systems.

Tip: Schedule “experience reminders” in your calendar—a cue to reflect on what you did last week. This boosts retrospective awareness of time.

Checklist: Weekly Time-Slowing Habits

• ✅ Do one thing you’ve never done before
• ✅ Spend 15 minutes without screens
• ✅ Write down three memorable moments from the week
• ✅ Have a conversation with full attention (no phone)
• ✅ Visit a new place, even if just a park or café

FAQ: Common Questions About Time Perception

Why does time feel fast even when I’m busy?

Being busy doesn’t equate to memorable. If your activities are repetitive—back-to-back meetings, routine chores—your brain doesn’t form strong memory traces. Busyness without novelty still leads to time compression in memory.

Can meditation really make time feel slower?

Yes. Meditation trains attention and present-moment awareness, both critical for memory encoding. Studies show regular meditators report richer recollections of daily life and a greater sense of time abundance.

Is there a biological “speed limit” to time perception?

Not exactly, but certain conditions—like high stress, poor sleep, or depression—can distort time perception. Conversely, flow states (deep focus) can make time seem to vanish in the moment but leave strong memories, giving a sense of fullness afterward.

Expert Insight: The Neuroscience of Presence

“The brain doesn’t measure time like a clock—it reconstructs it from memory. The more densely you encode an experience, the longer it will seem in retrospect.” — Dr. Amelia Hart, Cognitive Neuroscientist, Stanford University

This insight underscores a crucial truth: we don’t live in real-time; we live in remembered time. How we remember a year matters more than how it felt as it passed. By enriching our experiences, we don’t change the calendar—we change our relationship with it.

Conclusion: Reimagining Time in Adulthood

The feeling that time accelerates with age is not a flaw—it’s a feature of how our brains evolved to handle increasing experience. But that doesn’t mean we must accept it passively. By intentionally introducing novelty, practicing presence, and creating meaningful memory landmarks, we can restore depth to our years.

Aging doesn’t have to mean speeding up. It can mean slowing down—paying closer attention, savoring more moments, and building a life that, when looked back on, feels expansive rather than fleeting. Time may move forward at a constant rate, but how we experience it is ours to shape.

🚀 Start today: Do one small thing outside your routine. Notice how it feels. Remember it. That’s how you begin to stretch time.