WHY DOES TIME GO FASTER WHEN WE GET OLDER?

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"THE FUTURE IS PAVED WITH THE ACTIONS OF THE PRESENT"

What we do today determines what our tomorrow will be like.

Our current decisions and actions are the "bricks" with which we build our future. This means that if we act responsibly, diligently and thinking about the consequences, we will be building a solid and positive future. On the contrary, if we act irresponsibly or without thinking about the future, it can be unstable or negative.

Mahatma Gandhi said " The future depends on what you do today", emphasizing the importance of present action in shaping the future.

Peter Drucker and Abraham Lincoln recommended that "The best way to predict the future is to create it"

Both are credited with this phrase, which highlights that the future is not something that simply happens, but something that we actively build.

All of this reminds us of the importance of living consciously and making responsible decisions, as these will have a direct impact on our future.

Talking about the future inevitably leads us to consider the past and the present, since these three times are intrinsically connected. In this regard, Deepak Chopra, inspired by a Chinese proverb, said:

“The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called the present.”

TIME, THAT ELUSIVE CHRISTMAS THIEF

It was the fall of 1964 and I still vividly remember the feeling.

November stretched on endlessly, many days separating me from the long-awaited Christmas. I was seven years old, and those four weeks until December 24th were an insurmountable eternity. My days, then, passed slowly, filled with an expectation that stretched like chewing gum. Every hour, every minute, seemed to contain a universe of possibilities.

Now, with the passing of the years, that perception has been completely reversed. Months evaporate like water in the desert, weeks are compressed into a sigh, and days slip away like sand between the fingers. Sometimes, with nostalgia, I try to hold on to a moment, to stretch it out, but time, relentless, drags me helplessly towards the future.

Am I the only one who feels that time is passing by very quickly now? I am a university professor and as such, I often hear young people who ask themselves with wide eyes "Where do the days go? "Lamenting, between astonishment and incomprehension, the speed at which life passes"

The sensation of the fleeting passage of time creates a temporal vertigo that seems to have intensified in this era of hyper-connection and overstimulation.

Could technology, with its incessant torrent of information, be to blame for this temporal distortion? Are extraterrestrial entities stealing our time with dark purposes? Do we live in a faulty Matrix that speeds up the clock at will? Or is it that, as some doomsayers predict, the end of time is approaching and with it the acceleration of the cosmic clock?

Perhaps the answer is simpler, more human. Perhaps the key lies in how our perception of time is shaped throughout life, in how experience, memory and emotions color our experience of the present.

In this reflection, we will explore together the enigma of time. We will delve into scientific theories, philosophical reflections and personal experiences that help us understand how we perceive, measure and live this fundamental dimension of existence. Join me on this journey through time, and together we will discover its secrets, its paradoxes and its ephemeral beauty.

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WHAT IS TIME ?

Time is a fascinating concept that has intrigued philosophers and scientists for centuries.

Einstein's theory of relativity showed that time is not absolute, but relative to the observer. Time can pass at different speeds depending on the speed at which the observer is moving and the gravity to which he is subjected.

Some philosophers argue that time is a mental construct, a way our brains organize experiences and events. Others hold that time exists independently of our perception, as a fundamental dimension of reality.

DOES TIME FLOW?

The debate over whether time "flows" or is an illusion is a central issue in the philosophy of time.

Time, as a physical quantity, exists independently of us. Events occur in sequence, the universe evolves, and this happens with or without humans to observe it.

However, the way we measure and conceptualize time is a human construct. Calendars, clocks, units of time (seconds, minutes, hours) are tools we have created to organize our experience of time.

Ultimately, the nature of time remains a mystery. While physics provides us with an understanding of how time works in the universe, fundamental questions about its ultimate nature remain open to philosophical interpretation.

WHY DOES TIME GO FASTER AS WE AGE?

It's a question that many of us ask ourselves, right? It seems that time speeds up as we get older. Although chronological time always moves at the same pace, our perception of it changes throughout life.

There are several theories that attempt to explain why we feel that time passes faster as we age:

?? The proportion of time, when we are children, a year represents a large part of our life.

At 5 years old, a year is 20% of your life

At 50, it's only 2%.

This difference in proportion makes the years seem shorter as we age.

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?? News and experiences: As children, every day is full of new experiences and learning. Our brain processes and stores all this information, creating the sensation that time passes more slowly. As we get older, routine and familiarity dominate our days, which means that the brain does not register the days with the same intensity.

???Changes in time perception, some studies suggest that our cognitive processes speed up as we age. This means that we perceive and process information more quickly, which may contribute to the feeling that time passes more quickly.

??? The biological clock: as we age, our circadian rhythm and the production of certain hormones change. These physiological changes could influence our perception of time.

?? Memory and emotions: The way we remember the past also influences our perception of time. Vivid and emotional memories from childhood seem to last longer in our memory, while memories from adulthood can be more diffuse.

WHAT DOES ALEXIS CARREL SAY ABOUT THIS?

Alexis Carrel (Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1912) in his book "The Unknown Man" (1935), reflects on the nature of the human being and his relationship with the universe, exploring themes such as the mind, the body and the spirit.

Regarding time, Carrel argues that each individual possesses an internal "biological clock" that regulates his or her vital functions and determines his or her longevity. This biological clock is influenced by factors such as heredity, environment and lifestyle. Carrel argues that the modern pace of life, characterized by stress and hecticness, can speed up the biological clock and shorten human life.

All this is added to the fact that Carrel believes that the pulse influences the perception of time; as we age, the beats per minute decrease, thus creating the sensation that time passes more quickly. On the other hand, for a child, the beats per minute are higher, giving the sensation that time passes more slowly.

WHAT IS THE OPINION OF MODERN SCIENTISTS?

There is a very interesting and quite popular theory to explain why the perception of time accelerates with age. It is based on the idea that our brain, in order to optimize memory storage, compresses routine and monotonous experiences, making the days seem shorter in retrospect.

Imagine your brain is like a hard drive with limited capacity. When we are young, every day is filled with new experiences, learning and intense emotions. Our brain records every detail of these events, creating "heavy" memory files rich in information. This gives the sensation that time passes more slowly, as we have so much "data" stored for each period.

However, as we get older, our lives tend to become more routine. We go to work, do chores, see the same faces... The brain, sensing repetition and lack of novelty, begins to "compress" these days into memory, as if making a ZIP file. Since there are not as many novel details to record, the information stored for each day is less, and when we remember, that period seems to have lasted less.

This theory is reinforced by the fact that periods of our lives filled with new experiences, such as childhood or adolescence, are usually remembered as longer and more detailed than routine stages. Vacations, trips, or any event that breaks the monotony also tend to be perceived as longer in memory.

This proposal suggests that the sensation of time passing more quickly in old age is due to the way the brain processes and stores information. By compressing routine experiences to optimize memory, it creates the illusion that days, weeks and years fly by.

It is important to note that this is just one of several theories that attempt to explain this phenomenon. The perception of time is a complex process that involves psychological, biological, and experiential factors. While we cannot control the passage of time, being aware of how our mind processes it can help us appreciate each moment and live a more fulfilling life.

HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PHENOMENON OF THE PASSAGE OF TIME?

While we can't stop time, we can learn to manage it and make the most of it, even as we age and feel it speeding up.

IDEOLOGY:

Live in the present, instead of regretting the past or worrying about the future, focus on the present moment. Practice mindfulness to appreciate the small things in your everyday life and savor every experience.

Create meaningful memories, seek out novel experiences that break the routine and create vivid memories. Travel, learn something new, connect with nature, spend time on your passions. The richer and more emotional your memories are, the longer time will seem in retrospect.

Set goals and purposes, Having short, medium and long-term goals gives you a sense of direction and motivates you to make the most of your time. Celebrate your achievements and acknowledge your progress.

Learn to prioritize, Don't try to do everything. Identify what is really important to you and focus on that. Delegate or eliminate tasks that take up your time and energy without providing real value.

Cultivate meaningful relationships, spend quality time with loved ones, and strengthen your emotional bonds. Sharing experiences with others enriches your life and creates shared memories.

Take care of your physical and mental health. Good health allows you to fully enjoy every stage of life. Eat well, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and manage stress.

Embrace the passage of time, rather than resisting aging, accept it as a natural part of life. Every stage has its beauty and opportunities. Focus on what you can control and enjoy the present.

Remember that time is a valuable and limited resource. Make the most of it to live a full and meaningful life.

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Creating our own tomorrow is an exciting and challenging task that depends on our actions and decisions in the present.

?? Click on the image above for the video clip

Below, I share with you some key ideas to help you build the future you want:

1?? Define your vision

?? Dream big, imagine the tomorrow you long for. How do you see yourself? What are you doing? How do you feel? Don't limit yourself, let your imagination fly.

?? Set goals, translate your dreams into concrete, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals (SMART).

?? Visualize your success, imagining that you have already achieved your goals. What is your life like? What emotions do you experience? Visualization is a powerful tool to stay motivated.

2?? Take action

?? Plan your steps, breaking your goals down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will help you move forward steadily and stay focused.

?? Develop positive habits, incorporating habits that bring you closer to your goals, such as reading, exercise, meditation or organization.

?? Get out of your comfort zone, daring to try new things, take calculated risks and face your fears.

?? Be persistent, the road to success is not always easy. There will be obstacles and challenges, but perseverance is key to achieving your goals.

3?? Cultivate your interior

??Believe in yourself, trusting in your abilities and your potential to achieve what you set out to do.

?? Keep a positive attitude, focusing on opportunities and solutions, rather than problems.

?? Learn from your mistakes, don't be discouraged by failures, take them as opportunities for learning and growth.

?? Practice gratitude, appreciating the good things you have in your life and being thankful for them.

?? Surround yourself with positive people, seek the company of people who inspire you, support you and motivate you to be better.

4?? Take advantage of the tools at your disposal

?? Technology, use technology to your advantage to learn, connect with others, organize yourself and achieve your goals.

?? Education, never stop learning. Continuing education will open doors for you and allow you to adapt to changes in the world.

?? Online resources, there are a large number of free or low-cost online resources that you can use for your personal and professional development.

Remember that the future is not written in stone. You have the power to create it with your decisions and actions today. Start building the tomorrow you want right now!

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