You must be noticing how days, weeks, and even years seem to pass by in the blink of an eye? We check the calendar, and suddenly it’s already September. The question is: why do we feel like we’ve lost count of time?
Introduction & Background
Time is one of the most constant forces in the universe. A second is always a second, and an hour is always an hour. Yet our perception of time doesn’t follow the clock—it bends, stretches, and contracts depending on our experiences, habits, and state of mind.
This feeling isn’t new, but in our modern lifestyle, the loss of time perception has become stronger than ever.
The Psychology of Time Perception
Our brain doesn’t measure time like a stopwatch. Instead, it judges time based on events, novelty, and memory. When we experience new things—like a first day at college, a vacation, or a new job—our brain records more details, making time feel longer.
But when life turns repetitive, our brain stores fewer “time stamps,” and days blur together.
This is why childhood summers felt endless, but adult years disappear quickly.
Technology and the Attention Trap
One of the biggest reasons we’ve lost track of time is technology.
- Social media scrolling tricks the brain into micro-bursts of attention. Hours slip by unnoticed.
- Constant notifications fragment our sense of continuity, making days feel scattered.
- Binge culture—whether Netflix, gaming, or YouTube—creates “time bubbles” where entire nights vanish.
Instead of living in the present, we get trapped in endless digital loops.
The Pandemic Effect
COVID-19 created what psychologists now call “temporal disorientation.”
- Days looked the same: home, screen, sleep, repeat.
- Milestones blurred because events like travel, school, and festivals were cancelled.
- The year 2020 and parts of 2021 feel like a “time void” for many people.
This experience accelerated our sense of losing count of time.
Scientific Factors
Apart from lifestyle, science also plays a role:
- Age: As we grow older, each year becomes a smaller percentage of our life. For a 10-year-old, one year is 10% of life. For a 40-year-old, it’s just 2.5%. That makes time feel faster.
- Stress: Chronic stress puts the brain in “survival mode,” making us less aware of how time passes.
- Sleep cycles: Irregular sleep disrupts the body’s natural clock, further confusing our sense of time.
How to Reclaim Your Time
If you feel like time is slipping through your fingers, there are ways to regain control:
- Add novelty – Learn new skills, take new routes, or try different hobbies.
- Be mindful – Meditation and journaling anchor your awareness in the present.
- Limit digital loops – Create boundaries for social media, streaming, and gaming.
- Mark milestones – Celebrate small wins, plan events, and create “anchors” in memory.
Time isn’t just about clocks—it’s about how deeply we live each moment.
Conclusion
We haven’t truly lost time—it’s still ticking at the same pace. What we’ve lost is our connection with it. When life becomes repetitive, distracted, and unanchored, days blur and years vanish. The good news? By consciously adding presence and novelty back into life, we can once again feel the richness of time