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Novel experiences slow down time while habitual behaviors speed it up. However, we are almost by definition creatures of habit. They're necessary in order to fu
by sp527 9y ago
Novel experiences slow down time while habitual behaviors speed it up. However, we are almost by definition creatures of habit. They're necessary in order to function efficiently. So you could argue there's a tension between living efficiently and living well.
But most people never get far enough to worry about. Our world has been designed to lure people into poor behavioral loops like watching TV, browsing social media, and otherwise consuming aimlessly and mindlessly. Sadly, there appears to be a strong incentive to induce that kind of adverse behavior in users/customers.
- hyperdimension 9y agoWell said. Reminds me of something I read, about memory tends to remember novel and interesting things. It went on to mention how seniors like to point out how quickly life goes by, but that that's just because they (generally) live such regimented and static lives, that there's nothing particular to remember or take note of, so the time just passes by them.
- davidjnelson 9y agoThis is true, as Einstein’s quote describes in the article: “An hour sitting with a pretty girl on a park bench passes like a minute, but a minute sitting on a hot stove seems like an hour.” What a great goal. Structuring life as a series of awe inspiring experiences. I’m not convinced it’s novelty that drives it as opposed to how much awe is inspired. For instance, sitting on the park bench with your gorgeous wife could be as mesmerizing the 100th time as it was the first time. Edit: A more nuanced interpretation could be that if you’re fully in the moment, that 100th time is purely novel.