Time is something that we all wish to control. We want more time to be able to spend doing what we love, and less time doing what we dislike. It seems like just the opposite of that happens, but what if you could control time with your mind? In a way, you can control your perception of time.
This Power Is Found in the Difference Between Clock Time and Brain Time
“Clock time” exists objectively outside of us; an hour is an hour no matter how you feel about it. “Brain time,” however, is shaped by our perceptions. “Time flies when you’re having fun,” as the saying goes. On the other end of the spectrum, a task you find boring can drag on and on.
Your Brain Puts Things on a Memory Track as You Experience Them
Things like a car crash happen in an instant, but because these are memorable experiences, your brain takes more “footage” of them. This makes it so you remember even the littlest details of that moment. On the other hand, things like waiting in line, looking at your phone, or meaningless chitchat may take longer, but you remember less because your brain has nothing better to do than notice the passing of time.
We Experience Time Differently in the Moment Than We Do Retrospectively
This is the secret to slowing time. When we look back, our memories expand and condense. The ones that we remember well may have felt like a blink of the eye in the moment, but they feel longer when we remember them and our brain reforms the story. The times that felt never-ending in the moment are compressed away in our head and feel like they were quick. Basically what this means is that doing things out of the ordinary will make your brain more active, and doing these things often will make time feel like it is slowed down and you are fully experiencing these moments.
Want to change your perception of time? The next time you drive to work, take a different route. Or step out of your comfort zone and do something new and exciting. Take an impromptu trip, or enroll in a community center or college course. Do things that make you feel like you are fully living life. When you look back on these things, you will feel as though you have been living a long and full life. This is the true key to slowing down time and enjoying everything you do.
