Slow It Down: Our Perceptions of Time
Photo by Emanuel Ekström on Unsplash
“Time is running out and therefore, we must make the most of it.” This is what we are told since the beginning of our existence. This idea is used as a means of pushing ourselves (and one another) into satisfaction achieved through productivity and experiences; the goal is to have lived the most life.
In the space we occupy, both in the physical and cyber realms, we are not only reminded of the magic hourglass in the sky, but we also observe the falling sand-grains in the form of photos, videos, email, rigid schedules, space shuttles, and iCloud memories. None of these existed even as fathomable concepts a mere 150 years ago – the lifespan of two to five generations. Take a moment to think about this. The effect of time as we know it is scary and it’s humbling and it must be recognized. We have sped up our experience of time with our creations.
We haven’t actually altered time by any means. There is more than one way to think about the dimensions of time. For the sake of clarity, let’s discuss a popular theory of dimensionality rather than those which deal with the abstract concept of existence itself. According to astrophysicist Dr. Ethan Siegel’s explanation of Hermann Minkowski and Albert Einstein’s research, time is four-dimensional in the mathematical sense (actually 3+1, but for the sake of simplicity let’s think of it as four) and tied to space.
This means that while we can occupy space in three dimensions (latitude, longitude, and depth) that we can alter and manipulate as we move, there is an additional dimension we have absolutely no control over. Unaware of its true form of existence (perhaps “wibbly wobbly” or “jeremy bearimy”), we are bound to experience it in its linear form. We are objects in the presence of time moving in a singular direction. The grains inside the hourglass, if you will.
Following this theory, there are two additional thoughts I want to send your way. Dr. Siegel points out that if you remain stationary in the space you occupy, you experience time at its maximum capacity. Think back to sitting in the most boring class in middle school, and watching the clock. Think about how slowly an hour passed when you focused on time rather than space.
Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash
If we dematerialized and travelled through space at the speed of light, time would not exist in our experience. Somewhere in the midst of those states of being, we move through space and become immersed in the change that takes place within and around us, time slows. Sometimes, we forget time until we leave the immersion behind. This is called a “flow state” in the field of positive psychology and is praised by life coaches and creativity programs as the height of creativity.
All of this information is pertinent to my argument. As young adults in post-secondary institutions, we are not running out of time, even if we feel pressure to check all the boxes in a limited time span. We are capable of experiencing more time (quantitatively) now than ever before. Our lifespans are at an all-time high (despite the current pandemic), and globally our healthcare systems and technological innovation allow for survival and reproductive treatments beyond our comprehension. Currently, in an age where we are cyclically trying and failing to catch up to our creations and discoveries, being young is closer than ever to being old.
This fast-paced newness paired with a pandemic that has stagnated humanity psychologically and physically has made us feel like we’re back in a stuffy classroom, watching the clock and waiting for the recess bell, globally. We are feeling time as it changes us, with few memories left as keepsakes due to the mundane conditions of our lockdowns. It is making us restless. Our brains do not update or evolve as quickly as we think they do, and yet we try to push them into innovation. Out of restlessness, we dedicate ourselves to hustle culture, money chasing, family building, travel, and the ultimate optimization of every single second for the long term. While this business and booking up every spare moment is helpful with idleness, it can wear us down after a while and turn into burnout as we push our limits.
If that is ever the case, it helps to practice appreciating time. We must remember that time is beyond us and that we are privileged to experience it. It is scary to be the object in the presence of a force, but recognizing this fear may allow us to experience our moments a bit better. We might even start focusing on what we are doing instead of the time it takes us to get it done. And against all odds maybe, just maybe we can slow it down.