‘Live life to the fullest’ is an adage that we’re all familiar with, but now it seems that the benefits of a carpe diem approach can reach as far as having a longer life—or at least, the perception of one.
Engaging with new experiences is full of health benefits. The excitement that comes from traveling to new places, hearing great music performances and seeing incredible art releases a rush of endorphins from our brain. These in turn lead to a reduction in anxiety, an improved immune system and better cognitive function, all of which have positive effects on our overall health. Yet it’s the memories that these experiences create that are now being linked to the possibility of a longer life, thanks to how we perceive the passing of time.
Many can relate to the feeling that in adulthood time seems to “fly by,” especially in comparison to their childhood, which seemed to pass at a much slower speed. Neuroscientists are now linking this to the way in which we create and store memories.
Throughout our childhood, we are frequently being exposed to new things and experiences, which become ingrained as core memories. As Kristin Kostick, Ph.D. research associate at the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine notes in her piece for the college’s blog, according to cognitive psychologists like Martin Conway, our most vividly remembered ages are 15-25. This is due to it most commonly being an era of “firsts,” whether that be moving away from home for the first time or having your first sexual relationship. The novelty of these experiences increases their memorability, creating what scientists refer to as a “reminiscence bump.”
However, as we age, the frequency of new experiences drops. We settle into a routine of work, exercise and returning to our same favorite haunts with longtime friends. This means that we are creating fewer new memories that stick, and this impacts our perception of time.
“The fewer memories we have within a time period, the faster that time period seems to fly, according to cognitive psychologists,” writes Kostick. “With fewer salient memories in our older years, time speeds up incrementally.”
While the laws of physics mean that we may not be able to slow down time itself, understanding the importance of memories may mean that we’re able to lengthen our perception of time—and make the most of it in the process.
In “Time Warped: Unlocking the Mysteries of Time Perception,” Claudia Hammond points to the Vacation Paradox as an example of how creating new memories through positive experiences can lead to a lengthening of our perception of time. She theorizes that while being on a great vacation, it might feel like time is going by at great speed. This is because the pleasure of the experience is leading to a rush of dopamine, which in turn speeds up our inner clock. But once we return home and get back to normal everyday life, our memory of the vacation in retrospect makes it feel as if it lasted even longer than it did. So while the excitement of the vacation may have meant the experience itself felt fleeting, the memories formed means you’ll have stretched your perception of the time you spent—and the time you have left.
Luckily, forming the kind of memories that deepen our impression of time and extend our perception of it is not dependent on extravagance. The key is novelty, and while jetting off to a new destination may be one fun way to achieve it, introducing novelty in smaller ways is just as effective. Finding opportunities to develop new skills, meet new people or simply to break from your regular routine and do something spontaneous are all memory-creating practices that will be as effective as a vacation.
The other important element? Being intentional and attentive. Try ending each day by reflecting on what you experienced, so that you can find and ingrain memories of the details that made it special. Not only will it increase your gratitude for daily life, it might even make that life feel longer.