Methods to help slow things down and keep you from feeling like life and time are slipping away
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on happy
Remember how long summer vacations were when you were a kid? The weeks felt like years and the next school term was a distant dream. Today, the weeks seem to grow shorter and we are suddenly left in disbelief that another year has passed.
As adults, we have fewer new experiences and learn at a slower pace, allowing our days to become more predictable and blended together. So what can we do to slow down our perception of time?
1. New experiences – try to incorporate spontaneity into your life: go on trips, explore new places, learn a new skill and meet new people! If this sounds a bit difficult to achieve, you can simply find a new route to work or send an old friend a message. Access your inner child. You ask why?’ more often and say ‘Yes’ to more things (even when it scares you!)
2. Pay more attention – practicing mindfulness will help you notice and appreciate the smallest things. Savoring a moment will help you enjoy every detail of something and engage all your senses. Move off autopilot and into the present.
3. Single task – Doing too many things at once (or trying to) can make time seem to pass faster. The single task encourages us to focus on one thing at a time, which will also improve productivity. So the next time you have something to do, cut out any distractions and focus on just that one task.
4. Blank – Filling our schedules and to-do lists with as many things as possible will make our days feel rushed. To change this, intentionally carve white space – space to do nothing, just listen to music or daydream. When we do this, we stimulate the default mode network in our brain that acts like a factory reset, helping us recognize how we feel and where we are.
5. Reflection – Finding a way to reflect on your days helps capture the passing of time and give it the weight of importance it deserves. Writing in a journal, drawing, creating a scrapbook, or simply discussing your day with a loved one are all great practices.
