Have you ever felt like vacations were over before they even started? Or that time went too fast when you were busy having fun? According to psychologists, it comes down to our human perception of time.
In short, before and during a vacation, we have a prospective point of view: we plan and do many different things outside our day-to-day routines, which can make the days fly. But when we look back, the holidays don’t seem so short after all, because we only see the memories we’ve formed. And the more memories we build up, the longer our vacation seems in retrospect. Interesting, isn’t it? Psychologists call this the ‘holiday paradox’.
But if it’s all a matter of perception, is there a way to ‘trick’ our minds and slow down time? It turns out that there are a few ways to do that, according to experts.
Manage emotional anticipation
Numerous studies show that having something to look forward to helps boost our mood and reduces stress. But when it comes to events like a vacation, the more you look forward to it, the farther it seems to be in the future – and the shorter it feels when it happens.
As researchers explained here, “longing for something seems to shrink its duration in the mind’s eye”. On top of this, most people believe in the saying “time flies when you’re having fun”, so they instinctively assume that a fun event like their vacation will go by quickly.
A possible solution? According to researchers, instead of focusing on when a vacation will begin and end, it’s a good idea to focus on the number of days your vacation will last.
It’s all about moving your attention from a subjective feeling to an objective measure of time.
Do something completely new
Some studies have found that, when you’re put in an unfamiliar situation, it takes longer for the brain to process this new information. That explains why time seems to go slower when we’re young and experience a number of ‘first times’, whereas it passes a lot faster as we age.
So, a good way to slow your mind clock is to challenge your brain with brand-new experiences. With this increased level of awareness, you’ll create more detailed memories and will feel like time has moved slower.
Try journaling
Those who tried journaling say it can be a great way to reframe the way you experience time. It’s a sort of ‘written meditation’, triggering a more mindful approach to the present.
“Before I finally developed the habit of keeping a journal every day, I felt time as sand streaming down the middle of my fingers – never something I could hold,” writes Niaw de Leon in her Medium post. “But since I’ve started reviewing what I wrote at the end of the week, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how many interesting insights and experiences I’ve recorded. It totally destroyed the notion that I hadn’t done much for that week.”
Is that something you can do during the holidays? Check out these tips to get started.
Take a break from screens
Can you unplug from technology over summer? According to research, smartphones and tablets have trained our brain to process more information, which can trick us into perceiving time as faster. So, we end up feeling more stressed, because we constantly think time is running out.
The holidays can be an opportunity to take a break from the screen and expand the present moment. And here are seven tips to help you do just that.
Enjoy your time off!
In these fast-paced times, making slowing down a priority may help you enjoy life – and your spare time – more. We hope you found these tips helpful!
Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.