Why does time feel faster as you grow older?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Proportional Theory
One primary psychological explanation is the Proportional Theory. As individuals age, each year represents a smaller percentage of their total lifespan. For a five-year-old, one year is 20% of their life, while for a fifty-year-old, it is merely 2%. Consequently, time appears to accelerate because each interval holds less relative weight in the memory.

The Novelty Factor
Beyond mathematics, the Novelty Effect plays a crucial role in cognitive perception:

Rich Memories: During childhood, the brain processes vast amounts of unfamiliar data, leading to the creation of vivid, complex memories.
 Routine Automation: As adults, daily activities often become automated routines. The brain stops recording detailed snapshots of familiar patterns, resulting in a 'compressed' perception of time when looking back.

How to Slow Down Time
To counteract this phenomenon and make life feel longer, it is recommended to actively seek new experiences. By consistently learning new skills, traveling to unfamiliar locations, or breaking mundane habits, the brain is forced to engage in high-level processing again. This intentional pursuit of novelty creates more distinct 'milestone' memories, effectively expanding the subjective experience of time.