Throughout a typical day or week, the way we perceive time usually roughly matches up with the objective time of clocks and calendars. But when routine is broken in some way—whether it’s a novel experience, an intense emotion, or lack of activity—how we perceive the passage of time is affected. Michael Flaherty, Ph.D., a sociologist at Eckhert College who has studied the perceived passage of time for the last 30 years, has one theory for why this happens. The way we experience time depends on what he calls “the density of human experience1,” which measures the volume of both objective and subjective information. The density of human experience is high when a lot is happening. But paradoxically, the density of experience is also high when seemingly nothing is going on. This “empty” period of time is actually filled with subjective experience. You’re turning inward and concentrating on your own actions and surroundings. When you experience an intense psychological reaction, whether it’s boredom, shock, fear, or anxiety, the density of human experience is high, and time seems to pass more slowly. However, the situation is much different when you’re sitting at home anxiously pondering your future or waiting for someone to text you back. “When we become stressed, our brain takes notice of everything around us,” psychologist Amy Altenhaus, Ph.D., adds. “Every detail and memory that is contributing to our stress is documented by our brain, and it creates a huge number of mental snapshots in a very short time span.” Any time you’re in a unique situation where a lot of emotions are dredged up, time can seem to slow down. Rather than twiddling your thumbs and watching the clock, try to focus on the present moment and fill it up with a regular routine that keeps your mind occupied and your mood high—time will pass by before you know it.
