In our everyday lives, each of us encounters an inner feeling that time either slips away or drags on endlessly.

Mastering Time Perception Through Mental Techniques

In our everyday lives, each of us encounters an inner feeling that time either slips away or drags on endlessly. However, there is an opinion that it is possible to deliberately influence this subjective sensation by using certain mental techniques capable of accelerating our perception of time and making it more manageable.

In the introductory part, we examine the essence of these methods: some specialists are convinced that human consciousness has the ability to “shorten” the passage of time through various mental tricks. The main idea is that by changing our internal state and approach to what is happening, we can seemingly accelerate the perception of reality. Imagine that the ability to separate a moment of calm from constant internal rapid-fire tension enables us not only to use our resources more efficiently but also to remain more composed and attentive in our activities.

The main discussion is built on examples of practices in which a person consciously slows down their internal tension. Stepping away from a fast-paced rhythm and deliberately creating an emotional space where one can pause and simply enjoy the process leads to time beginning to feel less burdensome. This practice helps to focus better on communication or task execution while significantly reducing energy expenditure and mental fatigue, allowing one to use half the time without compromising the quality of perception. Of course, it is important to remember that the potential of these methods is not limitless—their effect is bounded by certain limits within which our consciousness can operate.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the ability to consciously change our perception of time opens up interesting prospects for self-improvement and increased effectiveness in various areas of life. By managing our internal state, we can find a balance between the drive for action and the need to slow down to savor every moment. This approach not only helps us use time more efficiently but also brings clarity and harmony to our daily existence.

Are There Ways to Control the Subjective Perception of Time to Make It Seem Faster?

Yes, there are techniques that can influence the subjective flow of time so that it appears to be faster. One approach involves the use of various psychological “tricks” which, according to the author, can “shorten” time. In particular, one of the cited fragments states:

"Everyday consciousness thinks that, if we tried hard enough, we could do things simultaneously. This is the everyday consciousness inherent in each of us, which is correct to a certain extent, i.e., that indeed, through various tricks, we can shorten time. We can refine reality in accordance with a fourth coordinate, but this refinement always has its limits." (source: link txt, page: 669)

Another method described in another source involves consciously slowing down the internal tension that arises with the feeling of “need to hurry.” The author recounts that by leaning back in a chair and engaging in a few minutes of simple conversation, he intentionally allowed himself not to rush. This led to the discovery that, despite expectations, the time spent turned out to be significantly less, and the perception of what was happening remained complete:

"At the moment when the feeling of 'need to hurry' arose, I leaned back in my chair and initiated a few minutes of simple conversation specifically to prevent myself from rushing. And over the course of two days, I discovered that it wasn’t necessary to do anything like that. You can simply be completely focused on the person or task at hand; and when you are finished, it turns out that you spent half as much time as previously required, yet you heard and noticed everything. Since then, I have given this advice many times to people engaged in various activities, and it works. So if you first practice stopping the time that is stagnant, and then the time that is rushing by, if you stop and say 'no' to it, you will find that at the moment when you overcome the internal tension, the inner chatter, restlessness, and anxiety, time will flow completely smoothly." (source: link txt, page: 2163)

These remarks indicate that altering one's internal state through certain mental techniques can influence the sensation of time passing. At the same time, although such methods can produce the effect of an accelerated subjective perception of time, their influence has its limits.