While for some the summer holidays barely start, for others, they are already over. And this year again, they seem to have gone to a crazy speed. A phenomenon that often leaves us perplexed: how is it that the two months of long holidays of our childhood seemed endless, when today a few weeks off evaporate in the blink of an eye?
Does our perception of time evolve over time? In fact, this feeling is not just an impression: it is explained scientifically.
“Our feelings of days, weeks and years is particularly influenced by our point of viewexplains Cindy Lustig, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. Are we living the present moment or do we look at the time spent?“
This difference in perspective plays a crucial role. When we are children, we live intensely every moment. The holiday days stretch in front of us, filled with discoveries and adventures.
In adulthood, we tend to look back more back, in “it was better before” mode, but also forward and in the future back to school.
A question of proportions
Age also changes our relationship to time that flows. For an 8 -year -old child, a week of vacation represents an important portion of his existence. For an adult, however, this same week is only a tiny part of his life.
Take the example of a 70 -year -old person. His life probably does not seem very different from that of his 68 or 69 years. “”In this case, she remembers fewer events“Explains Lustig. And according to the specialist, when the days or weeks are similar, our brain aggregates time. For someone who does almost the same thing every day, the year will mix in her mind and give him the impression that she has passed quickly.
Conversely, childhood is marked by first times and constant discoveries. Each day brings its share of new features. This understanding offers us tracks to “slow down” our perception of time. Get out of our habits, live new experiences, be fully present in the moment help enrich our memory and give more substance to our days.