Understanding time perception: How your mind experiences time

Have you ever been so lost in a great book that reading for an hour feels like one minute? Or tried an exercise class so challenging that a 30-second push feels like it’s lasting all day? 

Ever thought that the older you get, the faster things move? At the same time, feeling like, just yesterday, you were 10 years old with nothing but time ahead of you? 

If this sounds familiar, you understand how we subjectively experience the passage of time—otherwise known as time perception. 

The way we perceive time has sparked centuries of study. Influenced by a range of factors, it has the power to impact productivity, mental well-being, and focus, especially for professionals, students, and mindfulness seekers. 

This blog article will explore how cognitive factors and mindfulness influence time perception and will offer actionable strategies for enhancing it. 

What is the meaning of time perception?

Time perception refers to the sense of how long something seems to last. However, it’s not objective—it varies from person to person and event to event. 

Studies show that time perception can be impacted by various elements, including aging, emotion, and other cognitive factors. 

What affects your perception of time?

There are a lot of potential reasons behind your perception of time. These might include: 

Aging

Our brains function differently as we age. As children, our brains process visual information faster, so each second is filled with more mental images. Children’s brains are also still developing, and their neural transmissions are slower. This causes them to perceive time as passing by more slowly. 

Memory

As children, we’re constantly exposed to new things, which leave lasting imprints on our memories. But as we grow, fewer new things occur. Since we regularly gauge time based on memorable events, childhood can often seem longer than adulthood.

Emotion

The way we feel drastically impacts the way we perceive time. Positive emotions can speed things up (time might move quickly while working excitedly to meet a goal), but they also have the power to slow things down (when we see something awe-inspiring, time might stand still). Fear heavily influences how we perceive time, too, often causing it to feel slower.

What causes poor time perception?

While there’s no wrong way to perceive time, heightened emotions and a lack of novel moments can skew our experience. When our internal sense of time doesn’t match what’s happening externally, it can lead to confusion, frustration, or disconnection.

Someone with poor time perception might:

• Constantly underestimate or overestimate how long something takes
  
  
• Lose track of time without realizing it (“Wait—it’s 5 p.m. already?”)
  
  
• Feel like time is dragging during unengaging tasks or racing during high-stimulation moments
  
  
• Struggle to remember the order or spacing of past events
  
  
• Feel disoriented by how quickly (or slowly) a day, week, or even year has passed
  
  
• Have trouble “feeling” how long something will take, which impacts planning and pacing

Poor time perception can affect everything from focus to emotional regulation. Understanding what throws off your internal clock can be the first step toward restoring a sense of rhythm.

Why time feels like it’s flying—and 5 ways to slow it down

The sensation that time is “slipping away” is common, especially as we age. While there are neurological reasons for this, there are also many controllable factors, such as routine, distraction, lack of presence, and cognitive overload. When we’re not paying attention, or when every day looks the same, time can feel like it’s flying by. 

Here are five practical strategies to intentionally slow down time and feel more present: 

1. Add novelty to your daily routine

Monotony compresses time. Make small changes to your routine—take a new route, try a new workout, or change your workspace setup—to make experiences feel richer.

2. Practice mindful “time check-ins”

Use present-moment awareness techniques throughout the day to mentally pause and reset. The Balance app’s Body Scan Single is a great tool for this. 

3. Journal or reflect each evening

Taking five minutes to reflect on the day’s highlights and progress can increase your sense of time fullness and help encode richer memories. Gratitude journaling or evening journal prompts are useful techniques for reflection. 

4. Use time-stamping anchors (sound, light, movement)

Try setting temporal “bookmarks” by pairing key moments with a sound (chime), movement (walk), or setting (lighting a candle). These cues help segment time and enhance presence.

5. Engage in deep focus with brain training

Practicing sustained attention and memory with concentration games from the Elevate app trains the brain to notice and retain more details—stretching the subjective sense of time.

Why time feels like it’s dragging—and how to speed it up in 5 ways

When we’re bored, anxious, or under-stimulated, time seems to slow down. Lack of cognitive engagement and repetitive waiting (like when you’re stuck in traffic or waiting on results) distorts time.

Here are five ways to speed up sluggish time through mental fitness and mindful stimulation:

1. Create flow with the Pomodoro technique

Alternating 25-minute focus blocks with 5-minute breaks increases mental momentum and creates a satisfying rhythm. The University of Illinois suggests that structured breaks increase sustained attention, and guided meditations from the Balance app are a great way to fill them.

2. Set micro-goals to build momentum

Break large tasks into 10–30 minute goals. Each small accomplishment activates the brain’s reward system and builds motivation. Writing down and checking off your to-do items is a great way to stay engaged.

3. Move your body or change locations

Physical movement increases dopamine and reboots attention—both speed up perceived time. Try standing, stretching, taking short walks, or relocating between tasks. 

4. Try a cognitive warm-up before tasks

Engage in a short brain training session from the Elevate app before working to activate attention and task-readiness. This keeps the mind stimulated and makes the transition into focus smoother.

5. Use uplifting audio or ambient sound

Music and soundscapes can boost mood and focus—and both can shift time perception. Try pressing “play” on instrumental playlists, white noise, or meditation music from the Balance app to energize your tasks and make time pass more quickly.

Train your brain’s sense of time with Elevate and Balance

Time perception is not fixed—it’s shaped by your attention, engagement, and mental habits. 

Ready to get time back on your side? Try pairing Elevate’s award-winning brain training games (to build sustained focus and memory) with Balance’s award-winning mindfulness tools (to enhance present-moment awareness) for better time control and day-to-day satisfaction.

To shift your time experience today, start by playing a daily brain game and completing a five-minute meditation. Elevate and Balance are waiting for you on the App Store and the Play Store. 

Frequently asked questions about time perception

What is time perception?

Time perception is the brain’s subjective sense of how time passes. Unlike sight or hearing, which rely on organs, time is processed through attention, memory, and expectation. This explains why sometimes hours feel like minutes, while other times minutes feel like hours.

How does the brain perceive time?

The brain uses several systems:

• Internal neural clocks: The basal ganglia and cerebellum generate rhythmic signals to measure durations.
• Attention and focus: The more engaged you are, the denser your experience of time.
• Memory formation: New or meaningful events leave a richer record, making them feel longer when recalled.

What factors influence our experience of time?

• Emotional state (fear, joy, stress, awe)
• Novelty vs. routine
• Level of engagement
• Age and life stages
• Expectations and anticipation

How do brain games influence time perception?

Brain games are structured exercises that strengthen memory, focus, and processing speed. They impact time perception by:

• Improving attentional control (stretching your sense of time)
• Enhancing working memory (making days feel fuller in hindsight)
• Training temporal estimation (sharpening your internal clock)
• Inducing flow states (changing how time is experienced in the moment)

Why does time sometimes seem to speed up or slow down?

• Boredom and waiting make time crawl.
• Engagement or adrenaline can speed it up—or stretch moments dramatically.
• Routine blurs days together.
• Novelty makes time feel longer and more substantial.

Can I actively change my time perception?

Yes. Time perception is flexible. Mindfulness, varied routines, brain training, and focused attention can reshape how fast or slow your days feel.

What are 10 practical ways to take control of time perception?

1. Practice mindfulness
2. Vary your routine
3. Engage in brain games
4. Break tasks into chunks
5. Set clear goals
6. Focus instead of multitasking
7. Exercise regularly
8. Reflect and journal
9. Practice gratitude
10. Limit passive screen time

Is there scientific evidence supporting brain games for time perception?

Yes. Research confirms that:

• Mental exercises can reshape the way our brains sense time.
• Our brains’ neuroplasticity allows lasting improvements in focus, memory, and temporal processing.
• Mindfulness and novel learning increase memory formation, which expands our subjective sense of time.
  

What unique benefits does Elevate offer?

Elevate delivers personalized brain training that enhances:

• Attention and focus: Sharper awareness of each moment.
• Novelty and challenge: A variety of games that keep the brain engaged.
• Flow states: Designed tasks that induce deep concentration.
• Mental refreshment: Short, enjoyable exercises that reset your perspective on time.

How do I get started with Elevate?

1. Download the Elevate app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Take a personalized assessment to discover your cognitive strengths.
3. Start daily training with games targeting memory, focus, reasoning, and timing.
4. Track your progress with built-in tools that adapt as you improve.

With Elevate, you can sharpen your focus, enrich your memory, and take back control of your time.