Do you really know? Why does time go by faster with age?
Jan 2, 2026
As we age, our perception of time accelerates, making years seem to fly by. A fascinating theory by Adrian Bejan links this to our brain's cognitive decline and slower neural signals. Routine and fewer new experiences contribute to the feeling that time is slipping away faster. Interestingly, children process more information, making their experiences feel longer. Additionally, time appears relative to a person's lifespan, with each year feeling more substantial in childhood. Tune in to unpack the mysteries of time perception!
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Slower Brain Processing With Age
- Adrian Bejan proposes that slowing brain processing makes time feel faster as we age.
- He argues signals travel through longer, deteriorating neural networks, reducing processing speed.
Familiarity Speeds Subjective Time
- Familiarity reduces new information intake, making time subjectively pass faster for adults.
- Christian Yates says children reconfigure mental models more, so their days feel longer.
Memory Detail And Proportional Time Perception
- Stress can multiply memory detail, making moments feel longer, like accidents seeming in slow motion.
- A year is a smaller fraction of an adult's life, so each year feels shorter proportionally.