Perception of Time - Can you slow or speed up time

"If time were objective, we wouldn't always be looking at our watches"

The concept of altering the speed of one's brain is fascinating to me. Imagine being able to change your perception of time! We often ask ourselves, "Where did the time go?" and have a general understanding that time seems to fly when we are having fun. When I ponder on this idea, I become curious about what it means and what it means to me personally. In my experience, time appears to slow down when I am fully present and engaged in the moment believing that time is subjective and that we can perceive it in the way we desire. 

To slow down, we must focus on our surroundings and be present in the moment. Perhaps we could take some deep breaths, observe our surroundings, and try to engage our senses. When we are more mindful and present, we tend to pay closer attention to these surroundings, which can make time feel like it’s moving more slowly. On the other hand, when our minds are distracted or preoccupied, time can seem to slip away quickly. Being mindful and present can help us enjoy and appreciate each moment more fully, which can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in life. 

It's interesting how our perception of time can be influenced by the level of engagement we have in a particular task. For instance, when we are fully focused on one task, time seems to pass by more quickly. I recently tried this while exercising on a treadmill. I put a sticker on the wall in eye view, covered the clock, and listened to music. While focusing on the sticker and listening to my favourite songs, to my surprise, what was 30 minutes of running felt like 12. Then I attempted to run on the treadmill but allowed myself not to be fully present. My mind was distracted, and I found time seemed to drag on. I was amazed at how much of an impact my level of engagement had on this perception of time. 

I recently read a study where participants were put into a simulation and then scared in some manner. When asked how long they were in the simulation, their responses were much longer than the actual time itself. This reminded me of a scene in Divergent where Tris was in a simulation, and her perception of time was distorted. Adding an emotional response to our experiences, like feeling scared, happy or joyful, can also help slow down our perception of time and make us more aware of our surroundings. In these cases, an emotional response increased situational awareness, causing the perceived duration to lengthen. It is fascinating to think about how our brains work and how we can use this knowledge to live in the present and experience life more fully.  

In the end, it is okay to go out and have fun with friends - to laugh and enjoy the moment, allowing time to fly by; however, it is equally important to be aware of your surroundings and embrace those moments when you need to slow down time and just be present.  

- Nicole