# Aging and time perception **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 16, 2025, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646 "2025-03-16T05:37:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/21 "2025-03-16T18:37:31Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I play an old BBC recording of Teddy Bear’s Picnic that my parents played for me from 1932. I actually know all the words to that. 🧸 What does that say about me? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/22 "2025-03-16T18:55:46Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I still feel like I’m 25 most of the time, though, and forget that I need to be careful not to injure myself. Does that ever change? Yes. It gets worse. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/23 "2025-03-16T20:55:00Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Didn’t realize we had so much in common; I’m also a 40-something Brit. I knew you were British and thought you must be closer to my age than the average poster based on things you’ve said, but didn’t know how close. Nice to know I’m not the only one here. 🙂 > [@Mijin](#): > > My body is trying to tell me I am getting older, but I’m not listening and basically still doing the same active stuff as I ever did. > > I am noticing the recovery can be slower. I have a dry throat as a lingering symptom of a cold I had about a month ago, and my left arm has been too painful to do resistance training for at least a couple weeks, and I don’t even know how/when it might have got hurt. I really should do more regular exercise, that’s definitely not helping. Before my daughter was born I used to swim once a week, but then they closed the pools and I never got back into it. I need to get fitter to make sure I can keep up with her! Also, on Friday me and my husband had our first real night out together since she was born (went to see Miracle of Sound in Birmingham) and learned we do not recover from excessive amounts of alcohol as quickly as we once did. Worth it, though. > [@Mijin](#): > > Plus the short days in winter are awful. Oh god yes, so depressing. The light evenings in summer are nice, though. > [@Tibby](#): > > **Routine vs. Novelty: The Groundhog Day Phenomenon** > As kids, life is packed with novel firsts—first bike ride, first day of school, first sexual encounter, first sexual embarrassment, etc… As adults, we fall into routines: wake up, work, eat, mate, repeat. When every day starts feeling like a rerun, our brains stop marking time as distinctly, making the weeks, months, and years blend together like one big boring TV series (such as some ultra-serious British costume drama, like Downton Abbey[\*]). Novelty stimulates your memory encoding process, anchoring events more distinctly in your mind. Me and my husband had our daughter later in life, so there were a lot of years when we were together and nothing major changed in our lives. Time was passing but it didn’t feel like it. Since our daughter was born, we’ve got to experience all of her firsts, and it feels like time started flowing again. But it’s still going by very fast - feels like she was only just born and now she’s in school. Often I wish I could slow time down, since she’ll only be young once. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m 66. Not yet. Reality intrudes when I overextend my current older self, but that’s not too often. > > The shame is how much the other 25yos don’t recognize that I’m still them. 😉 As I often say: “I’m actually only 30 years old; just very high mileage!” > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I’m 70 this month - the answer is NO. I’m more unsteady, my hair is thinning and I can’t see as well as I used to. But I still feel I’m young in my mind. And, on the other hand, I recently re-roofed my garage. I tore off 3 layers of old shingles, carried up and installed new ones. I was careful and it took a bit to recover but I did save about $2000. > [@Kropotkin](#): > > Yes. It gets worse. I thought you might all say that. Reroofing the garage at 70 is impressive, though. I hope I’m still as able at that age. My mum’s the same age as you, and she did have a go on my kick scooter today while visiting - hopefully that’s a good sign. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/24 "2025-03-16T21:46:19Z")
I once read about a hypothesis that’s not in your list: as we get older, the reaction time of our neurons decreases. And because of this, _time_ - the days, months, and years we experience - appears to go by faster. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/25 "2025-03-16T22:12:15Z")
Reminds me of that old joke. The guy says to his doctor, if I give up drinking and smoking and chasing women will I really live longer, or will it just **seem** longer? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/26 "2025-03-16T22:17:31Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Is it morbid to watch old movies and TV reruns and think, all of those people are dead now? I don’t think so. We just re-watched _The Conversation_ yesterday (salute to you, Gene Hackman), and we realized most of the cast with non-negligble roles other than Harrison Ford were dead. It’s hard not to think it sometimes. I became a hockey fan in my middle teens and went to a lot of games. I can remember having crushes on particular players. Now, I watch a game, and I’m not only old enough to be these kids’ mother, I’m old enough to be their freaking _grandmother_. ETA: I had a biopsy on my inner calf a few weeks ago, and it’s taking for_ever_, in my mind, to heal. My memory is that I healed lots faster when I was younger. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/27 "2025-03-16T22:55:15Z")
So one old person dating (dating like carbon dating not dating like Tinder) thing I do is subconsciously date one time period as “a few years ago” regardless of the number of years it has been. For me it’s the early-mid 2000s (noughties) around 2003 when I came to the states. Like 2006, that was a few years ago, how many? I dunno, maybe 10 years ago tops. Do any of the old geezers on the board have similar “a few years ago” dates? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/28 "2025-03-17T02:24:47Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Do any of the old geezers on the board have similar “a few years ago” dates? It happens to me a lot when recalling memories involving my kids. Me: _Hey [Daughter 1], remember last year when you [insert memory here]?_ Daughter 1: _Dad… that was five years ago._ Me: _Impossible._ _My memory can’t be that faulty!_ Daughter 2: _Oh, it absolutely_ _can_ _. You said the same thing to me last week._ At this point, I have two choices: 1. Accept that time is accelerating at an alarming rate. 2. Assume my daughters are gaslighting me for sport. I choose door number 2 ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/29 "2025-03-17T02:39:31Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > It happens to me a lot when recalling memories involving my kids So my kids are young enough that they have opposite effect. 2018? That’s like 2-3 years ago, right? Oh wait, no, 6 year old daughter was born that year. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/30 "2025-03-17T09:11:09Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Do any of the old geezers on the board have similar “a few years ago” dates? I have this with pop culture. I used to be very good at remembering exactly when movies and songs were realeased, down to the month in some cases. Now, everything that came out after 2004 was “a few years ago.” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/31 "2025-03-17T09:47:09Z")
When I was in my upper thirties the new pastor of the church I was at was three years younger than me. Then it was my doctor, my hairdresser, the president and my state’s governor. At least now I’m younger than the current president. The only professional I deal with personally that’s older than me is the veternarian. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/32 "2025-03-17T13:22:42Z")
I watched the first ever episode of [Doctor Who](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who) in 1963. (Yes, I did have to hide behind the couch at one point! 😉 ) I was teaching in 1998 when a pupil asked me for help understanding the [Berlin Wall] ([Berlin Wall - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall)) - it was a history project. I gave some background and after thanking me the student asked if I remembered watching on TV the Wall coming down. “Oh yes” I replied “and I remember it being built too.” The pupil’s mouth dropped open. “Sir, how old **are** you?!” ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/33 "2025-03-17T13:29:53Z")
For me, it’s all about fashion, hairstyles, cars, films, and music. I can pinpoint each trend rather precisely when it comes to the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s (and before I was born, from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s). But once the 90s hit, everything got muddled, and beyond that, it’s just one big blurry blob. Is it just me, or does everything from the 90s onward look pretty much the same?! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/34 "2025-03-17T13:33:20Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > God, I gotta look up Granny. If she hadn’t died in 1973, she’d be 123 years old. She was born in 1902 and was 71 when she passed. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/35 "2025-03-17T15:05:34Z")
I’ll turn 64 in a few months. I’m not quite there, so I’m currently 63½ (spoken in the childlike exuberance of, no I’m not 7, I’m 7½!). @Tibby , thanks for that information. Makes sense! Not only does time shrink as we age, but so do childhood distances. I recently visited Upstate New York where I grew up, and that looooong walk to elementary school up that biiiiiiig hill is really just a quick jaunt around the corner up a mild bump in the road. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/36 "2025-03-17T15:17:31Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Not only does time shrink as we age, but so do childhood distances. I recently visited Upstate New York where I grew up, and that looooong walk to elementary school up that biiiiiiig hill is really just a quick jaunt around the corner up a mild bump in the road. But remember, it was uphill both ways to school. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/37 "2025-03-17T15:21:29Z")
I too am 63 and half years old and until the last couple of years I’ve been in a 1992 state of mind. That is until all of my old friends and relatives started dying off at a steady clip. The people who got my jokes and shared my memory are mostly gone now, so I’m starting to feel close to my age, I’d say I’m more like a 55 year old now. Which to me was always considered old. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/38 "2025-03-17T15:33:38Z")
20+ years ago, I read a clear and interesting article about time perception and aging being strongly related to physiology, but I can’t find it. It had something to do with the heart rate. Does anyone remember hearing anything like this? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/39 "2025-03-17T17:11:46Z")
Irene Ryan was 59 years old when The Beverly Hillbillies first aired. I would have thought she was at least 70. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646/40 "2025-03-17T17:22:48Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Irene Ryan was 59 years old when The Beverly Hillbillies first aired. Wow! I’m 11 years older than she was when she was “granny”. Adding to the mix, I never imagined I’d make it to 70. I know it’s kind of cliché to say, I’ll never make it to 30, but I honestly thought that (besides being reckless as a young person, I was also a bit of a hypochondriac). I also thought if I did make it to 60, I’d just be sitting around waiting to die. Ah, youth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-and-time-perception/1015646.md?page=3)