Time seems to pass faster when we are having fun because our brain is less focused on distractions and negative thoughts, which reduces our perception of the passing time.
Our brain does not run a perfect clock, but constructs a subjective and approximate estimation of time. To measure time, it mainly relies on its cognitive processing, a kind of internal clock dependent on our attention and memory. If we are highly focused or passionate about an activity, the brain is less capable of accurately monitoring this clock. The result: the perceived duration shortens and time seems to pass more quickly. Conversely, when we are bored, the brain constantly checks the passing time—minute by minute—which makes us feel like time is dragging on endlessly. Everything essentially depends on how our brain processes temporal information at a specific moment, and not on how much real time has actually passed.
When you experience positive emotions like joy, excitement, or pleasure, your brain releases dopamine. This substance alters the way your brain perceives time, making it feel like it passes more quickly. In fact, your brain is so busy savoring the moment that it loses a bit of the precise sense of the passing time. As a result, an hour of fun seems to last just a few minutes. Conversely, when you’re bored or frustrated, your brain feels and measures every second, dopamine is less present, and time seems endless. The stronger your emotion, the more intense this temporal effect becomes: a great moment always passes at high speed.
Our brain cannot efficiently process all the information around us, so it naturally makes a selective choice, which is called selective attention. When you are absorbed in an engaging activity, your attention focuses primarily on certain specific aspects, relegating the passage of time to the background. As a result, since your mind neglects the awareness of time, the flow of time suddenly seems to accelerate. Conversely, when you are bored, your brain constantly monitors the time, and you perceive it as endless. In short, the more captivated and focused the brain is, the less attentive it is to the passing time.
When an activity is particularly stimulating, with lots of novelties, challenges, or thrills, your brain has to process more information at once. This strongly activates your attention and curiosity, so much so that your usual sense of time can become blurred. In concrete terms, you end up absorbed in what you're doing, in a kind of flow state, where the minutes seem to fly by without you keeping count. The brain loves these situations because they constantly provide new things to manage, completely distracting your perception of the passage of time. As a result, you find yourself surprised a little later, thinking that time has indeed passed incredibly quickly.
Albert Einstein humorously illustrated time relativity as follows: "Sit next to a beautiful woman for a minute, and it seems like a second. Sit on a hot stove for a second, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity!"
The human brain does not have an accurate internal clock. Instead, it uses emotions, attention, and the number of tasks completed to estimate the passage of time.
Research shows that individuals experiencing a state of 'flow'—a state of intense and enjoyable concentration—unanimously report a distortion in their perception of time, making hours feel like minutes.
A familiar and routine environment tends to elongate our perception of time, while a surprising and entertaining novelty accelerates the felt passage of time.
Absolutely. Interactions with screens, particularly entertaining content, often accelerate our perception of time. The captivating and immersive effects diminish our attention to the passing time, leading to a feeling of time flowing more quickly.
Yes, it is possible to influence our perception of time by increasing new and stimulating experiences. By being attentive to the present moment and practicing mindfulness, we can also slow down our feeling of the passage of time.
When we are bored or engaged in repetitive and monotonous tasks, we tend to check the time frequently and await the end of an unexciting experience. This constant monitoring makes our brain more aware of the passing time, thus creating the sensation that time is slowing down.
Although chronological time remains constant, our perception evolves with age. As we grow older, routines and familiarity increase, which reduces the frequency of new experiences. Consequently, the brain encodes fewer distinct memories, creating the impression that time passes more quickly.
Sure! Here’s the translation: "Yes. Memory plays an essential role in the perception of time. The more an event is rich in emotions and memories, the more it seems intense and memorable, but paradoxically, it feels quicker in the moment. In contrast, retrospectively, these moments often appear longer due to their strong memory imprint."
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