Time Loops On - A Preamble

Recently, I have been feeling that time is slipping away. I feel a vague sense of panic and anxiety, moving into sadness. When I think about my life timeline, I realize I live at the short end of the stick. It bothers me that I don’t know how much time I have left in this life.

There is so much I want to do, and there is a sense of desperation and despair that I can’t seem to make it happen. Doesn’t it sound a bit grim?

Where has the time gone? Can I make it slow down? What do I do?

I decided to do some research.

The Loops of Time

James M. Broadway reported a study on the perception of time on the Scientific American site. In a post entitled “Why Does Time Speed UP with Age?” he wrote:

“Many of us feel that time passes more quickly as we age, a perception that can lead to regrets.

When asked to reflect on their lives, the participants over 40 felt that time elapsed slowly in their childhood but accelerated steadily through their teenage years into early adulthood.”

The study found that when we are younger, we have many new experiences and learn many new things. But as we age, our lives become more routine—and dull.

A Harvard University report found some exciting findings: “No, It’s Not Just You: Why Time “speeds up” as we get older.” It discussed the brain’s neural pathways and reported that “as we age, the rate at which we process visual information slows.” Because of that, our subjective experience of time speeds up.

That idea took me time to work to get my head around.

It explains that our neural pathways become more complex as we age, so it takes us longer to process information. Also, damage to our neurons happens over time, creating obstacles to our processing and slowing our processing time.

Professor Adrian Bejan suggests:

“Slower processing times result in us perceiving fewer ‘frames-per-second’—more time passes between the perception of each new mental image. This is what leads to time passing more rapidly. When we are young, each second of actual time is packed with many more mental images. Like a slow-motion camera that captures thousands of images per second, time appears to pass more slowly.”

There is a fuller explanation in an article by Dr. David R. Hamilton on his site: “Why Time Speeds Up as We Age.” He wrote:

“The first is that the brain encodes novel experiences much more richly than everyday, ordinary experiences.”

Later in the post, he writes:

“This is why you can easily recall the details of any new experience but forget what you had for lunch last Wednesday.”

“There’s another theory about why time seems to speed up as we age. French philosopher Paul Janet first proposed it in 1897. It’s sometimes known as ‘log time.’ As we age, a year becomes a smaller fraction of our lives up to that point.”

“A year for a 5-year-old is one-fifth (or 20%) of their life so far, but a year to a 50-year-old is one-fiftieth of their life (or 2% of it), so it seems to pass ten times faster. If you’re 33, a year is 3% of your life so far, so time passes almost seven times faster than when you were five. Time for an 80-year-old passes almost in the blink of an eye, sixteen times faster than it does for a 5-year-old.”

I feel better knowing this information. There is a scientific, physical reality to my perception of time.

Happier Times Ladder

Remember the study by James M. Broadway? He suggested the more memories we build, the more time seems to slow down. He theorizes that we can slow down time later in life and “alter our perceptions by keeping our brains active, continually learning skills and ideas, and exploring new places.”

And remember Dr. David R. Hamilton? He reminds us that we remember our first date with someone we like more than our tenth date because of the newness and the intensity of the brain’s work. So, he strongly suggests doing something new and different to slow down time. His suggestions include the following:

• Try a new recipe.

• Eat fresh foods you have never tried.

• Try a different route.

• Study something new.

• Learn a new language.

• Learn a contemporary dance.

• Speak to someone new.

• Break out of your familiar patterns.

A critical point Dr. Hamilton makes is that:

“Novelty also causes neurogenesis in the brain, the birth of brand-new brain cells. So, while other people are losing brain cells daily, neurogenesis can somewhat counteract the effect, richly forming new structures to hold the new memories.”

I was in a ‘funny’ head-space as I moved across the country and waited for my apartment to be available. Time was speeding up and slowing down.

I enjoyed setting up my new space and getting to know my new town and province. But, as I settled in and my routine took hold, I felt I needed novelty. So, I joined a Tai Chi class and a seniors’ exercise class. I felt better because of the exercise, meeting new people, and learning new things.

Now, I want even more new experiences, so I will apply to audit a course at the university in my town.

Let’s look at some inspiration.

Climbing Up The Ladder To Slow Time Down

One of the things I have learned is that to slow down time, it is essential to be in the moment and savour what is happening—be it washing dishes, taking a walk, or eating your meal.

When you are with someone, focus on them and what they tell you.

Try to look for new things to buy in the grocery store.

My point is that there is a way to live everyday life that gives you enriching experiences and thus helps time slow down.

Global News in Canada has an article on its site titled “Meet the ‘Oldfluencers’—Canadian baby boomers putting a new face on aging.”  It introduces us to some fascinating people and discusses the substantial economic influence baby boomers have on the economy.

Women 55+ must pay attention to this and find ways to slow time down for themselves with the ideas and inspiration this post provides.

It puts a new spin on what it means to age.

“Baby boomers are living out their bucket lists, tackling new challenges while shredding those stereotypes.”

“It’s estimated that Canadians over age 55 control 60 percent of total consumer spending. Compared to other age groups, they buy more cars, fashion and almost everything.”

“We’re going to redefine what it means to age in modern and contemporary culture.”

A Challenge For You:

• Create a bucket list of the new things you want to do in the next month, year, two, five, and ten years.

• Create detailed plans for accomplishing those things. Then, start putting those plans on your agenda.

• Make your first steps to carry out your projects.

• You are amazing!

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