Why does time fly by much faster as an adult
TL;DR
It feels like time flies by as an adult and it’s crazy when you look back retrospectively how fast it has gone by
Even when some days drag, time still flies, not because it’s warped, but because your brain is more occupied as an adult outside of routine like work and exercise.
The busier the brain, the busier life is, and the faster it seems to fly by, because you’re not taking the time to appreciate the moment you’re in but are constantly focussed on the next step. And where that’s good for somethings, it shouldn’t be how you live each day.
Time will just go by, and we can’t get more of it or reverse it, so if something comes to you and you think it’s a good idea, do it. Having moments to look back on, will make you feel less like time has flown by without you using it intentionally
How often do you think retrospectively, “Wow Time has flown by”?
Honestly no idea. But I did read or scroll somewhere that said it’s because we spend less time doing nothing. And I don’t mean sat on the sofa scrolling, but actually doing nothing. Being bored. As a kid, everything dragged, because we didn’t have many responsibilities, but that is way different from life as an adult. So, let’s talk about that.
Why time seemingly moves slower, when we all have the same 24 hrs
I remember sitting in school or attending dance class and literally watching the clock drag. But Rue, it also does that in adulthood (you might say). And that’s true, I have sat through my fair share of meetings and whole 8 hours shifts of work, begging for the time to go faster.
This is because there was something to look forward to, that was way more thrilling than what was going on in the present. So, you spend your time wishing for the present to move on so you can experience what you are looking forward to. But in that process, your attention span is so small, it feels like hours between each minute moving, when actually it’s the exact same 60 seconds as it always has been.
Yet even though there are moments like that, which are so slow it’s agonising, you find yourself in adulthood, looking back on your life and it still seems like an incredibly fast passage of time. Especially when you realise we are past the halfway mark of 2026, and who would’ve thought we would make this far? (granted how 2026 started and is still going).
Why are you busier even when doing “nothing”?
Last I checked, when I was a kid, I didn’t need to think about feeding myself, keeping the house clean and making sure my bills were paid. Because there were grown ups around me who did that. I’m aware not everyone had that privilege, but that is normally the life expected for a child. No responsibilities. This meant my brain had so much space to think and dream and imagine, and time always moves slower in your imagination.
As an adult, I am in charge of my body and autonomy. If I want to have a social life, I have to contribute to planning it and being involved in it. If I want to stay active, I have to be the driver to go workout and keep myself moving. I have the responsibility of maintaining my space and wellbeing. All these things we didn’t have to manage as kids.
And before you know it, your brain isn’t as quiet as it used to be. Growing up it was the occasional homework task, and the knowledge we needed for exams. Now there is constant knowledge going in and out of our brain, and trying to keep up with it, means we can easily lose track of time. You could just be sat on the sofa, staring at a wall, but you aren’t staring at a wall, your brain is doing a lot of thinking.
So why does it feel faster as an adult?
So overall as an adult, time does travel a lot faster. Even though we live the same 365 days as we did as kids. So, what happened? The responsibilities, the constant whirring of the brain has taken up so much space, that there is less time to wish away.
Now as adults we have less time to be bored. The time we find boring, tends to be our jobs and other mundane routines we follow daily, but because our outside lives have some semblance of variety, we are constantly looking forward to the next thing, as well as doing any necessary admin for that thing. For example, your friend is throwing a party 3 months from now for their birthday. You not only have to think of a gift, which you may spend money or time on, but there is the outfit you will wear, whether or not you need a driver or you will drive. There might be other things going on that weekend, that require your presence, so you have to plan around that too. And before you know it, even with the dragging slow days in work, 2.5 months have gone by, and you still haven’t bought the present, or thought through how you can make each commitment work that day. Because in the middle of all of that, there were bills, random adulting emergencies, work deadlines and just trying to keep yourself alive to see the party.
How to make time feel a little slower
Live in the moment – Don’t take out your phone unless it’s necessary.
Experience with your whole body – when was the last time you used all 5 sense to experience the moment you are in?
Actively force quietness in your head – whether it’s breathing, yoga, or literally watching paint dry, but don’t give the thoughts that go through your head any attention, let them just pass by.
Time will just go by, and we can’t get more of it or reverse it, so if something comes to you and you think it’s a good idea, do it. Having moments to look back on, will make you feel less like time has flown by without you using it intentionally
