Slowing down time

A few days ago, I heard a podcast episode about the science of slowing down time.

The concept was interesting — the guest, psychologist Steve Taylor, talks about how a year feels incredibly long when you are a child, yet, as an adult, the years fly by.

He calls this the aging-time paradox where time appears to speed up as we grow older.

One of the key reasons for this is novelty.

When we’re young, everything is new and our brains work overtime to absorb fresh experiences, making time feel more stretched.

Conversely, as we age and fall into routines, the more predictable nature of life means our brains work less, and time passes faster. At the same time, the more memories and significant events we have in the year, change our brain’s perception of how long the year was.

So, how do we slow time down?

• Seek out novelty: Try new hobbies, travel, or even change your route to work.

• Be more present: Practicing mindfulness can help you fully experience each moment.

• Break the routine: Shake things up, even in small ways, to create fresh memories.

• Reflect and document: Journaling or taking photos helps anchor memories, making time feel fuller.

Time isn’t moving faster—you’re just experiencing less of it. By adding more variety and presence to your life, you can stretch time and make it feel richer.

Today’s Prompts

1 - What were some of the most memorable years of your life? What made them feel so significant?

2 - How can you make your years more enriching so that it feels like time has slowed down?

3 - Reflect on a year of major life changes versus a year of stability. How did each feel in terms of time?

I’d love your feedback

What was your favourite prompt of the day? Is there any specific challenge you want prompts for? How can I improve the content of the newsletter? Reply this mail and let me know!