You may have noticed that time seems to go faster and faster with each passing year; and it’s not just your imagination. Both physiological and psychological factors influence our perception of time to make it seem shorter. On top of that, there is the reality of our limited lifespan — the longer we live, the less time we have left — so we want to treasure this precious commodity.
Learning how to make the most of your time can not only help ease the uneasy feeling that it is slipping away; it can also help you lead a fulfilling and rewarding life. Let’s start by looking at the reasons time seems to accelerate.
Why does time seem to speed up with age?
Cindy Lustig, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, suggests that our perception of time may be strongly influenced by our perspective — the passing of days, weeks and years seems slow while we experience them, but faster when we look back on them. This feeling of acceleration is enhanced by age, since each segment of time becomes a smaller and smaller fraction of your total life experience.
In addition, time that is spent in varied and new experiences, which is typical for children, seems to last longer than that filled with habitual, everyday activities, which is common for adults. “When you’re looking back, the less rich your representation is, the more it’s going to seem like the time went by quickly,” she said.
According to Adrian Bejan, author of the recent book Time And Beauty: Why Time Flies And Beauty Never Dies, our perception of time is also impacted by a physiological phenomenon. Our brains are trained to receive and absorb many more new images in our youth than in our later years. This reduction in images can make the same amount of time feel shorter.
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To mitigate this feeling, Bejan suggests that we make a point of experiencing things that are new and out of our usual regimen; while Lustig encourages us to “make the most of the time that you’ve got.”
How to make the most of your time
1. Use your time effectively
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – Peter 4:10
Each of us has our own God-given talents and a limited time on Earth, which should be put to good use. Honor your natural abilities and build on them — they can become valuable tools for furthering your goals. Whether you’re a gifted artist, a social butterfly, or a whiz at math, your unique skills are an asset that you can work into every aspect of your life.
Time spent doing things you’re good at generally comes with satisfaction and gets good results, while trying to fit a square peg into a round hole can bring frustration and fruitlessness. Although it’s great to try new things and give it your best, it is also wise to recognize your limits and draw on your strengths.
2. Preserve time
One mistake we often make is piddling away our downtime. Breaks and vacations are important and healthy; but if they aren’t structured, all that potential quality-time gets sucked into the abyss — lost forever.
Instead of zoning out in front of the TV or scrolling social media, plan activities that build memories and help you grow. Do something with friends, get outside, read an inspiring book, exercise, meditate, or take on a DIY project to fill your free time with value.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to spend more time than you realize on useless activities. Keeping a time diary can help you pinpoint where time is being wasted so it can be put to better use. Start keeping a notebook with you throughout the day, and jot down each activity with its start and end time. Include everything: work, household chores, personal care, breaks and distractions, and be specific. At the end of the day, tally up the time spent on each activity.
After a week, you may see a pattern of time-wasting habits. If you are shocked by how much time you spend doing something, you will be inspired to alter your environment or your behavior accordingly. The time saved can be used for more meaningful activities.
3. Focus on meaningful activities
A rich and full life is made up of meaningful activities — ones that align with your core values and personal goals. If your schedule is filled with unnecessary tasks that clutter your mind and make you feel stuck or unmotivated, it’s time to prioritize.
No matter how many jobs you have, your number one responsibility is to be true to yourself. Prioritize your commitments — dropping activities that conflict with your values and focusing on those that enrich your life and help you serve others. People on a spiritual path know that some of the most meaningful pursuits involve “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:4
Of course, some things are unavoidable, so identify areas where you can streamline the tasks that lack value for you. If you are in a position to delegate, sharing your responsibilities can save you time and help others grow. Technology can also be an incredible tool — just make sure you are using it, and not the other way around.
4. Make all your activities meaningful
Whether or not you manage to tackle all of the above does not even matter if you can do this one thing: Slow down and live in the moment. Stop multitasking and genuinely focus on one thing at a time. Every activity can be a blissful and meditative experience if you approach it with the right mindset.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” – Colossians 3:23
This aligns with the Buddhist tradition of mindfulness. Now gaining popularity for its notable health benefits, mindfulness is a cultivated state of awareness. Without the need for yoga mats, chanting, or incense, we can learn to become fully present in any situation. Whether you’re eating, driving, or scrubbing the floor, you can do it mindfully.
Start by paying closer attention to subtle things — like your sensations, thoughts, and observations. Accept them without judgement and refrain from trying to change them. With practice, you will develop your capacity for mind over matter, and time might actually seem to slow down.
