3 Tips to Slow Down Time
“I’m struggling to know where this year has gone!”
This is a statement I’ve heard myself and others say many times in the last few weeks.
It only feels like yesterday that we were seeing in the new year, and yet now we are firmly in October.
Often wondering whether this is just a consequence of me getting older, I was struck by a quote from Oliver Burkeman in his book Four Thousand Weeks – Time Management for Mortals…
“It’s hard to imagine a crueller arrangement: not only are our four thousand weeks constantly running out, but the fewer of them we have left, the faster we seem to lose them.”
Why time flies
In seeking to understand why time seems to be speeding up, I’ve read numerous theories. Many suggest that a key influence of our perception of time is novelty. These theories suggest that as we get older the number of new experiences we have in life reduces, hence time feels like it is slipping away faster. Whether this reduction in novelty is because we find comfort in the familiar, or that our lives become driven more by routine than adventure, there seems to be fewer ‘new things’ in life, hence we rely on moving through life unconsciously, being over dependent on our autopilot, rather than consciously appreciating the moments of our existence.
Linked to the reduction in novelty, I’ve also come to believe that our perception of time is influenced by the underlying level of anxiety we feel, and thus the amount of free cognitive energy we have to remain curious and open to new experiences. That is, in a world where there is increasing micro and macro uncertainty, it is hard not to feel higher levels of anxiety as we seek to navigate the events that impact our life. And to deal with this anxiety, we have to think more consciously just to deal with what’s in front of us, leaving less mental and physical energy to explore new experiences, and thus less capacity to embrace novelty.
How to slow down time
In the May half-term school break, our family had the privilege of being invited to see two sets of friends who had moved independently to North America. One was based in Austin, Texas, and the other in New York. Whilst we were away for only about eight days, filled with new experiences and lots of directionless exploration, those eight days felt more like two months. Each day we ventured out, saw new things, got lost, and had the joy of engaging in deep conversations as a family and with our friends.
Once back in the UK following our break, I reflected on why time seemed to slow so much over those eight days. The conclusion I reached was that to slow down time requires three things:
- Embracing novelty – whether this includes just walking a different path on our way to the office, venturing out to do something different for a few hours on the weekend, or going on some larger adventure, we can all find ways to switch off our autopilot and explore new experiences in our lives.
- Directing our attention – facing increasing levels of uncertainty it is easy for us to find ways to distract ourselves from the challenges that confront us. Rather than consciously direct our energy on that which will help us make the most out of the time we have, we allow our attention to be consumed by the trivial, such as mindlessly scrolling through social media, or by issues which we can do nothing about. In these moments, rather than consciously directing our attention to that which will help us feel more fulfilled, we allow our attention to drift.
- Practicing appreciation – “What do you appreciate?” an early coach of mine would ask at the start of every session. Often confused when he asked this, I came to realise that the purpose of his question was to force me to slow down and become conscious of my surroundings. It forced me to pause, reflect, and appreciate the preciousness of my existence and of time.
Supported by a further quote from Oliver Burkeman, in seeking to slow down time I have come to believe that the key is to be conscious of what we pay attention to. Against this Burkeman states…
“Attention, on the other hand, just is life: your experience of being alive consists of nothing other than the sum of everything to which you pay attention. At the end of your life, looking back on how you’ve spent it, whatever compelled your attention from moment to moment is simply what your life will have been. To a great extent, you are what you pay attention to. So, when you pay attention to something you don’t especially value, it’s not an exaggeration to say that you’re paying with your life.”
Conscious attention
So, if you are concerned about time moving too fast, and that the moments of your existence are slipping away too quickly, my advice is to start becoming conscious of what you are paying attention to…because, as Oliver Burkeman rightly says, what you are paying attention to, you are paying for with your life.
Further techniques
If you’re looking for some further techniques to slow down time, why not try:
- Mindfulness and meditation: Practicing mindfulness or meditation allows you to fully experience the present moment, helping time feel less hurried and more meaningful.
- Engaging in hobbies or creative activities: Hobbies and activities like drawing, playing music, writing, or other forms of art can lead to a state of flow, where you lose track of time because you’re fully immersed in the moment.
- Disconnecting from technology: Reducing screen time and social media use can help minimise distractions and increase awareness of the present moment.
- Slowing down routine tasks: Doing everyday activities more slowly and mindfully – such as eating, walking, or washing dishes – can help you savour each moment rather than rushing through life.
- Setting intentional breaks: Regularly taking breaks to reflect, breathe, or simply pause can help reset your sense of time and prevent it from feeling too fleeting. Even if the break is only one minute, it is amazing how rejuvenating it can be.
- Embracing nature: Spending time in nature or in quiet, contemplative environments can foster a sense of timelessness, helping to slow your perception of time.
Need further support? Contact Rob@purposefulleader.co