Are the Days in Isolation Flying By?

By CarePatrol of Chicago Northshore

Have you noticed that the passage of time appears to change as you age, or as you isolate yourself in your home? 

Talking to seniors daily, I tend to see patterns in behavior and perception of life as they move through the world around them. I often hear seniors say “the years are flying by.”  Do you feel the time you perceive is not the same as the time on our clocks?

I have found that my perception of time has shifted not only as I age, but also based on my activities and how well I sleep. If I am eating well, working out and getting good sleep, the passage of time slows down.  If I am confined to my home, have a beer and pizza and lousy sleep, my performance level drops the following day, and the day appears to pass quickly. That would seem to suggest that there may be a physical explanation for our changing perception of time as we get older, or as we self-isolate. As children, we experienced lots of activity and new stimulation and time seemed to pass slower. We know that as we age, the way the brain processes information and responds to stimuli changes. As seniors, the processing of our environment slows, and it is possible that this change in response to stimuli gives us the perception that time is “flying by quicker.”

If it takes longer to process information as we age, it may explain why some seniors struggle with activities of daily living such as paying bills, while at the same time feeling that time passes quicker.  They perceive that they are functioning slower, but feel that time is passing faster.  Whether living in a home or an assisted living community, Care Patrol encourages seniors to stay active, engage with friends and family (learn video chat!), eat well, get good sleep, and live well. The clock will continue to click off the hours, but you may find that your mind slows down the time!