Time and the Oddball Effect

Remember when you were young. The summers lasted a lifetime, all was new in the world, life was simple. As you grew older, life became much more complicated. School, love, more school, work. Looking back, the time seemed to have flown by. But time does what it always does, marching along, second by second equal in length, since the universe began.

You may have this feeling even more so now as we wait out the storm of the century that is COVID-19. Every day is the same. So how do we break the cycle? Is there a way for us to give ourselves more time?

Well yes and no. A second is a second (unless you start traveling near the speed of light but that’s another story for another day). But the secret to making your time stretch out longer is novelty.

Our brains spend more time processing (or thinking about) new things. This makes it seem like they have lasted longer than something that you’ve done over and over. For example, think about a time you went to work. Remember your commute on a particular day? Or do they all kind of blend together? The memories that stick out most are the ones that break from the mundane. This concept is called “The Oddball Effect”.

So what’s the fix for your COVID (or really any) slump? Break the routine! That’s really it. It really doesn’t matter what you do so long as it’s new.

Have that meal you’ve always wanted to try to cook? Do it! Wanted to try painting, writing, or some other new creative output? Do it! Board game night with friends? Do it (virtually for the time being)!

Breaking your routine is the easiest way to make your hours stretch out longer so when you do look back, it’ll feel full and fulfilled.