The Psychological Secret to Longevity
Three takeaways:
By understanding the study of the human perception of time, we can put our time to better use.
French Philosopher Henri Bergson theorized that our perception of time’s value is deeply personal—moments feel longer or shorter depending on how emotionally engaged or aware we are, meaning that what we consider “precious time” isn’t measured by clocks but by the intensity and meaning we attach to each experience. This intensity can often increase with age.
Age isn’t the only factor that affects our perception of time. It can also seem to speed up or slow down depending on what we’re experiencing—a phenomenon known as tachypsychia, the term for why time flies when you’re having fun and crawls when you’re bored or uninspired.
The voluminous philosophy and research on our experience of time all seems to point to a bittersweet conclusion: the more joy we feel– especially later in life– the faster time seems to pass us by. So how do we counteract this phenomenon?
Brooks offers three easily practical techniques for getting the most value and enjoyment from your time, without feeling like it is so fleeting:
- Remember, Meaning is greater than fun: Research suggests that significant and emotionally rich activities are always going to be cherished and valued expenditures of time. Pursue experiences based on how much they mean to you. Brooks uses the example of two trips that were the same length. A beach vacation, and a highly spiritual walk of the Camino de Santiago. The latter was full of experiences that he found emotionally and spiritually resonant, whereas the beach vacation– while fun and relaxing– was fleeting and did not leave a lasting impact.
- Savor the Moments: Be purposeful and present. Psychologists define savoring an experience as the “capacity to attend to, appreciate, and enhance the positive experiences.” Even if things aren’t going 100% to plan– the intention to be present for your experiences will help you make the time count.
- Avoid Routine: Researchers have found that familiar, routine activities tend to make time feel like it’s moving faster, while new or unfamiliar experiences slow it down. Routines can put your brain on autopilot, making it harder to savor the moment. Even small changes to your environment, daily habits, or social circle can make a meaningful difference.
In the end, it’s not how much time you have, but how intentionally you use it. Remembering that life is finite can help us spend our time on activities that instill our lives with greater purpose.
From Arthur C. Brooks at The Atlantic:
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