A compelling new psychology study suggests that the sensation of time “flying by” is more closely tied to periods of personal growth and satisfaction, rather than mundane routines or forgettable days. Published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the research fundamentally challenges the long-held belief that monotony compresses our memory of time, instead highlighting fulfillment and nostalgia as key drivers of our perceptions of how quickly life passes—even as we age (PsyPost).
For many Thais, as for people worldwide, it is common to reflect on one’s life and wonder why the years, semesters, or summers seem to slip through our fingers, especially as we grow older. Culturally, this notion is present in the Thai expression “เวลาเหมือนสายน้ำ” (time is like a river), which echoes sentiments expressed by families and elders alike during festivals such as Songkran or Loy Krathong. But these shared feelings have more than just nostalgia behind them—the research shows there are deeper psychological mechanisms at work.
The study involved nearly 2,500 participants across several settings, from university students at the start of adulthood to older adults reflecting on past years. Participants were surveyed about specific periods in their lives, like an academic year or a summer break, and asked to recall details: Was the time routine or exciting? Was it marked by personal achievement, growth, or fulfillment? How many standout moments could they remember? Perhaps most tellingly, they rated how quickly the period felt in hindsight.
Contrary to the “routine-compression theory”—which holds that time contracted in memory when filled with dull, repetitive days—the new findings reveal a nuanced reality. While periods seen as routine sometimes felt like they flew by, the number of memorable events and even routine itself did not consistently predict perceptions of time’s speed. Instead, it was periods colored by feelings of satisfaction, immersion, and nostalgia that participants recalled as passing most swiftly.
The research team outlined two novel explanatory theories. The first, labeled “growth-immersion,” posits that time seems to pass quickly when individuals are absorbed in deep, meaningful activities—a phenomenon akin to entering a psychological “flow” state, well-known to athletes, artists, and high-achieving students. The second, termed “growth-longing,” suggests that looking back with nostalgia on periods of personal progress produces a bittersweet sense of fleetingness, making those times seem both special and short-lived.
To test their hypotheses, the team employed statistical models that factored in self-reports of satisfaction and nostalgia along with recollections of growth. The result? When satisfaction and nostalgia were accounted for, the effect of growth on speedy time perception vanished. In essence, satisfaction and nostalgia—often produced by growth—are what truly make periods feel as though they have zipped by.
As explained by the lead researchers, “Time appeared to pass swiftly when it followed a repetitive pattern of routine, but critically, when it also was fulfilling, evoking a sense of satisfaction and immersion, and perhaps to a lesser extent, nostalgia and longing.” This suggests that the more meaning and emotion packed into an interval, the shorter it may seem in retrospect.
A senior academic in psychology, unaffiliated with the study, agrees these findings challenge traditional Western and Asian beliefs: “In cultures like Thailand where family, education, and festivals punctuate the year, the memory of growth and shared joy drives both nostalgia and the perception that time is moving quickly. This research helps us see these perceptions as positive—a sign of a rich and engaged life.”
In fact, the study has implications for Thais across age groups. For university students in Bangkok adapting to the pace of academic life, or older adults recalling decades marked by family milestones, career advancement, and temple festivities, the study suggests that feeling time is “flying” may actually be a marker of well-lived, satisfying years—not an indicator of life’s emptiness. The researchers noted that the “routine-compression” effect was seen more in older, demographically diverse samples, hinting that the meaning of “routine” may evolve with age—a nod to how retirement or caring for grandchildren might alter perceptions.
Notably, the methodology relied on self-reported and cross-sectional surveys, which cannot confirm direct causation. The authors admit it is possible that people who are generally more satisfied or nostalgic are also more likely to feel that time passes quickly, no matter the circumstances. Longitudinal studies could further illuminate how shifts in satisfaction, identity, or nostalgia directly impact our internal clocks.
Thai history and culture place enormous value on meaningful experiences. Rituals that mark the passage of time—for example, ordination, graduation, or the annual pilgrimage during Visakha Bucha—are imbued with deep personal and communal meaning. Memory, satisfaction, and nostalgia for these events may be precisely what help to account for why “time flies” after periods rich in meaning, as seen in the study.
For the future, these insights may change how individuals of all ages approach life, education, and even mental well-being. Instead of viewing the rapid flow of time with anxiety or regret, Thais might be encouraged to interpret it as positive proof of a life packed with memorable, meaningful growth. As the study’s authors suggest, perhaps the true goal isn’t to try to “slow life down,” but rather to deliberately fill it with activities, projects, and connections that foster satisfaction and immersion.
For Thai readers seeking practical takeaways, consider reframing periods that seemed to rush by not as lost opportunities, but as evidence of fulfillment. Take time to celebrate milestones, invest in challenging projects, participate in rich cultural experiences, and nurture relationships—these pursuits are likely to enhance life satisfaction, deepen nostalgia, and, as science now shows, leave you with cherished memories that retrospectively make time appear to move rapidly for all the right reasons.
Sources:
- PsyPost summary of the study
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2025