Comments on: My theory on time, and how it effects my life http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/ The stuff in the head of Scott Johnson Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:36:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Joann http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Joann Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:47:37 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-215 From what i remember of grad school, there are actual reasons for this, although I can't remember any citations at present. It's worse when unemployed: I make long laundry lists to do and suddenly, 5 - 6 hours are gone, I've done nothing but check email and write. Several things have helped me, but they do require persistence and motivation: 1.) Less time on the computer. The www just sucks time from my life. Period. 2.) Excercise. 1 hour of exercise *still* feels like an hour and a half. Thank goodness. Vigorous exercise will extend my day by a few hours, almost back to what life "felt" like in my early 20's. 3.) Planning my time and then executing my tasks accordingly instead allowing myself to "drift" through my day. If I "drift" along, hours turn into seconds. Then, my end-of-day reflection is better, as well. From what i remember of grad school, there are actual reasons for this, although I can’t remember any citations at present. It’s worse when unemployed: I make long laundry lists to do and suddenly, 5 – 6 hours are gone, I’ve done nothing but check email and write.
Several things have helped me, but they do require persistence and motivation:
1.) Less time on the computer. The www just sucks time from my life. Period.
2.) Excercise. 1 hour of exercise *still* feels like an hour and a half. Thank goodness. Vigorous exercise will extend my day by a few hours, almost back to what life “felt” like in my early 20′s.
3.) Planning my time and then executing my tasks accordingly instead allowing myself to “drift” through my day. If I “drift” along, hours turn into seconds. Then, my end-of-day reflection is better, as well.

]]> By: Zion http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Zion Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:32:30 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-207 I thought I was the only one! After the birth of my kids, time began speeding up and now, a year is only a second. I see my kids growing and my hair graying and my age changing and I still feel like I'm 18! I'm 38 and i think it's because we are getting closer to the end of our lives and there's not as much time as when we were yong left for us, therefore time itself seems ot be traveling at a faster rate. Well, thats my take anywhoo. Love the shows. Take care my friend. I thought I was the only one! After the birth of my kids, time began speeding up and now, a year is only a second. I see my kids growing and my hair graying and my age changing and I still feel like I’m 18! I’m 38 and i think it’s because we are getting closer to the end of our lives and there’s not as much time as when we were yong left for us, therefore time itself seems ot be traveling at a faster rate.

Well, thats my take anywhoo. Love the shows.

Take care my friend.

]]> By: The Slack Jaw http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-174 The Slack Jaw Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:59:11 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-174 I really do agree. I think it's a variation of another phenomenon that we all have experienced. I believe Einstein said it best with "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity." As we get older we get more accustomed to the passage of time. Therefore it goes faster. Just a thought. By the by, love your work. I appreciate it. I really do agree. I think it’s a variation of another phenomenon that we all have experienced. I believe Einstein said it best with “Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT’S relativity.” As we get older we get more accustomed to the passage of time. Therefore it goes faster. Just a thought.

By the by, love your work. I appreciate it.

]]> By: Mattzilla http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Mattzilla Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:50:03 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-158 That's a really interesting concept. I definately feel the same sensation as you Scott, and I'm about the same age as you as well. Is the sensation a physical one due to some chemical processes in our brains as they get older..or is it something more subtle, something more in line with having an ever broader set of life experiences to contrast against our day to day life? Or is it that when we're younger we have less responsibility, less obligations, less people depending on us, and less awareness of the things we need to do? Probably a combination of them all to some extent. I know that when I was young, really young as in the 3rd, 4th 5th grade days seemed to stretch on forever. Whether that day was spent in school, or with friends, or just alone exploring my neighborhood; time seemed almost infinate. Summers went on forever, and school days dragged on and on. But while the things I was focused on were by and large less important tha the things I focus on as an adult, I don't think I focused on any of them less intently. So it would seem that whatever causes it it's not a lack of things to do, or a lack of attention. These days it all seems so much shorter. Summer ends to quickly, days fly by and there's never enough time to do everything I want to, everything I need to. It's definately a real sensation, and it's interesting to wonder exactly what the basis is. I watched the Michio Kaku video linked above where he did the experiment involving perception of time. It seemed that generally speaking younger people did count out a minute early while older people counted it out longer. That seems to indicate that as we get older some part of our brain gets fuzzier, slower - generally speaking of course, I'm sure there are outliers to this both old and young. However it must be a factor, whether it's a function of the brain getting "filled" with memories" or just older..perhaps the decay of our brain cells even..somehow we must process things slower..even if it's fractionally slower. Over time it must add up. Maybe the less you know, the longer you have :) That’s a really interesting concept. I definately feel the same sensation as you Scott, and I’m about the same age as you as well.

Is the sensation a physical one due to some chemical processes in our brains as they get older..or is it something more subtle, something more in line with having an ever broader set of life experiences to contrast against our day to day life? Or is it that when we’re younger we have less responsibility, less obligations, less people depending on us, and less awareness of the things we need to do?

Probably a combination of them all to some extent.

I know that when I was young, really young as in the 3rd, 4th 5th grade days seemed to stretch on forever. Whether that day was spent in school, or with friends, or just alone exploring my neighborhood; time seemed almost infinate. Summers went on forever, and school days dragged on and on. But while the things I was focused on were by and large less important tha the things I focus on as an adult, I don’t think I focused on any of them less intently. So it would seem that whatever causes it it’s not a lack of things to do, or a lack of attention.

These days it all seems so much shorter. Summer ends to quickly, days fly by and there’s never enough time to do everything I want to, everything I need to.

It’s definately a real sensation, and it’s interesting to wonder exactly what the basis is.

I watched the Michio Kaku video linked above where he did the experiment involving perception of time. It seemed that generally speaking younger people did count out a minute early while older people counted it out longer. That seems to indicate that as we get older some part of our brain gets fuzzier, slower – generally speaking of course, I’m sure there are outliers to this both old and young. However it must be a factor, whether it’s a function of the brain getting “filled” with memories” or just older..perhaps the decay of our brain cells even..somehow we must process things slower..even if it’s fractionally slower. Over time it must add up.

Maybe the less you know, the longer you have :)

]]> By: S Jones http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-157 S Jones Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:09:29 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-157 In reference to Niika's comment. I heard an apprentice and an old grumpy veteran lineman have an exchange once, "Boy, I was doing linework when you were in diapers!" "Yeah, well I'll be doing linework when you're in diapers too, Pal!" Classic! In reference to Niika’s comment. I heard an apprentice and an old grumpy veteran lineman have an exchange once, “Boy, I was doing linework when you were in diapers!” “Yeah, well I’ll be doing linework when you’re in diapers too, Pal!” Classic!

]]> By: Chandler http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Chandler Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:34:26 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-154 I'm only 21, but I think I am beginning to feel some of what you're talking about. Days seemed longer when I was very young, years seemed longer... I'm only half your age, but the fact that it's already starting to become apparent to me I think provides further evidence for your theory. Kind of a downer, but such is life, I suppose. I'm just thankful for the good that has happened to me, and hopefully all that will happen, however compressed it becomes. I’m only 21, but I think I am beginning to feel some of what you’re talking about. Days seemed longer when I was very young, years seemed longer… I’m only half your age, but the fact that it’s already starting to become apparent to me I think provides further evidence for your theory.
Kind of a downer, but such is life, I suppose. I’m just thankful for the good that has happened to me, and hopefully all that will happen, however compressed it becomes.

]]> By: Niika http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Niika Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:01:49 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-127 I'm with Katie. If you are complaining now, wait until about 6 months after retirement, when that honeymoon bubble bursts. You are SO excited about actually completing your career, that you spend ALL your time/money/gears trying to do everything you missed in life, WHILE you were working. Then, your back locks up and you have to stop golfing/chasingwomen/bungeejumping and you realize... .... that time.... .................. once more................ ..... crawls to a stop. By the way, the OTHER reversal phenomenon is diapers. You start off in them, and by golly, you freaking end your life in them. Just wait 'til THAT hits your sanity. I’m with Katie. If you are complaining now, wait until about 6 months after retirement, when that honeymoon bubble bursts. You are SO excited about actually completing your career, that you spend ALL your time/money/gears trying to do everything you missed in life, WHILE you were working. Then, your back locks up and you have to stop golfing/chasingwomen/bungeejumping and you realize…

…. that time….

……………… once more…………….

….. crawls to a stop.

By the way, the OTHER reversal phenomenon is diapers. You start off in them, and by golly, you freaking end your life in them. Just wait ’til THAT hits your sanity.

]]> By: Melanie1001 http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Melanie1001 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:53:51 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-112 You know it's funny, i was just reading this article http://www.wbur.org/npr/122322542 which was done Feb 1st, then came here and read your idea on that too - You are ahead of the curve :-) It's scary but this truly does happen. In a few days I'll be 35 - and sadly I feel like I've wasted most of those years on nothing, and it's all passed by me so fast. Feel like there is no time to really do something with my life before it's done, that I've waited too long. I blink and a month is over. Turn around another year is done. Go to sleep, wake up and 5 years have passed. Lately I've been thinking about it too, and honestly have found it rather depressing in my case. Maybe this is my version of midlife crisis? Not sure. Or is it my subconscious's way of telling me to wake up and do something else with your life? Anyway, you are far from alone and from the article it appears others have been thinking about the same thing! You know it’s funny, i was just reading this article

http://www.wbur.org/npr/122322542

which was done Feb 1st, then came here and read your idea on that too – You are ahead of the curve :-)

It’s scary but this truly does happen. In a few days I’ll be 35 – and sadly I feel like I’ve wasted most of those years on nothing, and it’s all passed by me so fast. Feel like there is no time to really do something with my life before it’s done, that I’ve waited too long. I blink and a month is over. Turn around another year is done. Go to sleep, wake up and 5 years have passed. Lately I’ve been thinking about it too, and honestly have found it rather depressing in my case. Maybe this is my version of midlife crisis? Not sure. Or is it my subconscious’s way of telling me to wake up and do something else with your life?

Anyway, you are far from alone and from the article it appears others have been thinking about the same thing!

]]> By: Zak http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Zak Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:59:00 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-110 I would love to respond but lost track of time. Hmmm, that seemed funnier in my head. I would love to respond but lost track of time.

Hmmm, that seemed funnier in my head.

]]> By: FakeSteveJobs http://thescottjohnson.com/2010/01/my-theory-on-time-and-how-it-effects-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-108 FakeSteveJobs Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:56:48 +0000 http://thescottjohnson.com/?p=128#comment-108 Of course time is speeding up. I'm the one causing it. That Reality Distortion Field I've got going has some interesting side effects. Of course time is speeding up.

I’m the one causing it. That Reality Distortion Field I’ve got going has some interesting side effects.

]]>