As we enter 2024, we may have the experience of counting down to the new year just now, and in the blink of an eye, the year is almost over. Many people sighed: "Time is passing faster and faster!".So, what kind of scientific principle is hidden behind this subjective feeling?
First, from a physiological point of view, a person's perception of time is closely related to the biological clock and neural activity in their brain. As we age, our metabolism slows down, and our body clock, such as circadian rhythms, doesn't adjust accordingly. This means that the brains of older adults receive relatively few fresh stimuli for the same amount of physical time and therefore feel that time passes more quickly. At the same time, people's physiology declines with age, and their sensitivity to time decreases. Does that mean we're a year older?
The Memory Effect:The human memory system is more sensitive to novel, intense, or emotionally charged events that leave a lasting impression on the memory and make us feel that the experience was relatively long. And in everyday life, ordinary days seem blurry when recalled, and we are always doing repetitive things, or always doing things that have no results, thus giving people the feeling of "time rushing".
The pace of life and distraction: In modern society, the pace of life is increasing, and people are often distracted by various chores and tasks, resulting in a high degree of distraction. In this state, time seems to pass "in the blink of an eye". Conversely, when we focus on a task or enjoy quiet alone time, we tend to feel more time.
Psychological expectations and goal achievement: When we are young, we set long-term goals that give us the mental anticipation of a long wait ahead. However, as time goes on and we continue to accomplish the set goals, the days ahead seem to become shorter, creating a sense of time acceleration.
The socio-cultural environment also influences our perception of time to a large extent. In the digital age, advances in technology have made us more productive in our work and life thanks to the rapid access to large amounts of information, but at the same time, they have also exacerbated people's anxiety about the passage of time. The immediacy of social networking also weakens people's perception of the depth of time, and they always look forward to the next update and the next hot spot, so that the sense of time becomes fragmented and fast-flowing.
To sum up, in 2023, we feel that time flies not really faster, but due to a combination of physical, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Understanding this phenomenon helps us manage our time better, slow down the pace of our lives, and make the most of each moment. Whether you have been happy, sad, hateful, loved, passionate, or inactive in 2023, no matter what era you are in, we need to feel the beauty of every moment with our hearts, so that every minute of life is full of meaning.