Does time move faster as we age?
The thread explores whether subjective time perception changes with age. Two main theories dominate: proportional theory (a year represents a smaller fraction of total life as you age) and novelty theory (routine reduces memorable moments, making time feel compressed). A minority view argues time doesn't actually move faster - only our attention does - and that deliberate mindfulness can reverse the effect.
3 responses
Feb 25, 2026
Honestly, I think that's just nostalgia messing with us. Summer felt long as a kid because we were bored out of our minds and time moved at a snail's pace. Now I'm busy as hell so days fly by, but that's not because time is actually moving faster - it's just my perception based on how packed my schedule is. If I took three months off tomorrow, I bet it'd feel long again.
Feb 25, 2026
Nah man, this whole thing is a cope. Time doesn't move faster with age - we just pay less attention to it because we're distracted. Kids notice everything: every cloud, every bug, every weird conversation. Adults are just scrolling through life half-asleep. The moment you start really paying attention again, time slows down. Try it.
Feb 25, 2026
Yeah, it absolutely does. When you're a kid, a year is like 25% of your entire life - it feels massive. But at 40, a year is only 2.5% of what you've lived, so mathematically it should feel shorter, right? Plus, everything's routine now - same job, same commute, same coffee shop - so there's less novelty to encode in your memory. The days blur together.