Why does time seem to speed up as we grow older?

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Accepted Answer

The Proportional Theory
One primary psychological explanation is the proportional theory. As individuals age, each year represents a smaller fraction of their total life experience. For a five-year-old, a single year is 20% of their existence, whereas for a fifty-year-old, it is only 2%. Consequently, time feels vastly different based on these relative scales.

The Novelty Factor
Beyond mathematics, the novelty of experiences plays a crucial role:
 Childhood Wonder: Youth is filled with "firsts"—first day of school, first bike ride, or first trip. These unique events require deep cognitive processing.
 Routine Habituation: As adults settle into established routines, the brain stops recording new data as intensely. This lack of distinct "memory markers" causes periods of time to blend together, creating the illusion of rapid passage.

How to Slow Down Time
To counteract this phenomenon, experts suggest intentionally breaking the cycle of repetition. By learning new skills, traveling to unfamiliar places, or engaging in hobbies that demand full focus, the brain is forced to create fresh, vivid memories, effectively extending the perceived length of days and years.