When Joy Makes Time Disappear

Many people have probably heard the saying that time flies when you’re having fun. Interestingly, this feeling is not just a figure of speech. Psychology suggests there is science behind it.

Think about the time when you’re stuck waiting in line or sitting in a meeting you wish you did not need to attend. Time seems to crawl, almost like being trapped in a waiting paradox.

Yet during a holiday or a joyful gathering, hours can feel like minutes. Although the clock ticks at the same pace regardless of what we are doing, our experience of time does not.

The Science of Time Perception

Our perception of time is not fixed. Instead, it is subjective and influenced by our mental and emotional states. Psychologists often describe time perception as elastic because it can stretch or compress depending on how engaged, stressed, or emotionally stimulated we are (Mirage News, 2023).

The Brain’s Internal Clock

One explanation for this phenomenon is the pacemaker-accumulator model. According to this model, the brain contains a pacemaker that produces signals or “ticks,” while an accumulator helps us judge how much time has passed (Lake et al., 2016).

When we are bored or uncomfortable, we focus more on time itself, becoming increasingly aware of each passing moment. As a result, time feels slower. In contrast, when we are deeply engaged or enjoying ourselves, our attention is directed elsewhere, such as the activity, the people around us, or the experience itself.

To illustrate, imagine your brain as an accountant dropping pennies into a jar every second. When you are bored, you watch every penny drop. When you are happy, however, your attention is on the party rather than the jar. By the end of the night, you look down and think, “Wait, where did all the pennies go?”

The Role of Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter often associated with pleasure and reward. It also plays an important role in time perception (Simen & Matell, 2016).

When dopamine levels increase, typically during enjoyable activities, the brain processes information more quickly. This increased mental activity can make time feel as though it is moving faster. On the other hand, low dopamine levels, which are often linked to low mood or lack of motivation, may disrupt time perception and make moments feel longer and heavier.

Why Time Feels Faster as We Age?

Researchers Marc Wittmann and Nadine Mella (2021) found that many people notice time seems to pass more quickly as they grow older. One explanation is that novelty decreases with age. New experiences require more attention and are more richly encoded in memory, making time feel fuller (Buesing, 2025).

As we age, routines become more familiar and fewer "new" moments stand out. When we look back, periods with fewer distinctive memories may feel shorter, even if they lasted just as long.

Is It Possible to Slow Down Time?

While we cannot stop time, we can change how we experience it. Research suggests that practices such as mindfulness can help us feel more grounded in the present moment (Morin & Grondin, 2024). By paying closer attention to our emotions, sensations, and surroundings, we become more engaged with the present, which may make time feel fuller rather than rushed.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle also matters. Simple habits such as regular exercise, sufficient rest, and emotional regulation can help stabilize how we experience time. Writing-for-healing expert Diana Raab (2017) suggests that taking a walk in nature is not only calming but may also help slow down our perception of time. Recalling the details of our experiences and expressing them verbally, through writing, or even through photographs can help us become more present and attentive to the moment.

Conclusion

Time may be constant, but our experience of it is not. Moments of joy feel fleeting not because they are shorter, but because our minds are fully immersed in the experience itself. Perhaps instead of wishing time would slow down, we can focus on being present and allowing moments to feel meaningful, even as they pass.

References

1. Buesing, E. D. (2025, May 23). Why time slips away as we age and how new experiences can it bring back. Medium. https://medium.com/@EDBuesing/why-time-slips-away-as-we-age-and-how-new-experiences-can-bring-it-back-241a04a8f90b

2. Lake, J. I., LaBar, K. S., & Meck, W. H. (2016). Emotional modulation of interval timing and time perception. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 64, 403–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.003

3. Mirage News. (2023, May 29). Time perception: Why time flies when we’re having fun. https://www.miragenews.com/time-perception-why-time-flies-when-were-having-1015712/#google_vignette

4. Morin, A., & Grondin, S. (2024). Mindfulness and time perception: A systematic integrative review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 162, 105657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105657

5. Raab, D. (2017, May 16). Studies have shown that as we age, time goes faster. Here’s how to slow it down. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201705/how-to-slow-down-time

6. Simen, P., & Matell, M. (2016). Why does time seem to fly when we’re having fun? Science, 354(6317), 1231–1232. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal4021

7. Wittmann, M., & Mella, N. (2021). Having children speeds up the subjective passage of lifetime in parents. Timing & Time Perception, 9(3), 275–283. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134468-bja10023