You Can Use The “Novelty Effect” To Slow Down Time
Do you remember what summer used to feel like when you were a child? For me, it felt like a never-ending, sunny horizon stretching out in front of me. Instead of the routine of class, recess, and after-school activities, each day held something new and exciting. Playing in the sprinklers, climbing trees in the neighborhood, swimming in my aunt’s pool, making arts and crafts with fuzzy pom poms, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. Upon waking up, anything could happen.
“Do you remember what summer used to feel like when you were a child? For me, it felt like a never-ending, sunny horizon stretching out in front of me.”
Now, each year seems to pass faster as I grow older. The three measly summer months come and go before I can fully register their arrival. I never can believe it when the time comes for class to start back up again in August. Didn’t summer break just begin for those kids?
It’s not just me. As it turns out, there are several reasons that time used to move slower during our summers of youth. Although time moves forward at an objective pace, our perception of its passage is wildly subjective. Insights from neuroscience have confirmed this. Read on to find out why this is — and how you can use it to savor your experience.
