By John Valentik, MS, CSCS, NASM-PES, CES

Do you ever wish you could play the part of Adam Sandler in the movie Click? He has a remote control that allows him to pause time, fast-forward through it, or even rewind and experience certain moments again. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth the watch.

Believe it or not, while we certainly don’t have a magical remote control, we may have a little more ability to alter our perception of time than we realize.

Let’s break it down.

I’ve asked the question, “When does time stand still for you?” in several of my classes at Penn State. It’s not meant to be a trick question, but rather an opportunity for reflection. The answer, of course, is going to be different for everyone.

There are moments in life when we stop noticing time because we’re completely absorbed in what we’re doing. For you sports fans, think about being “in the zone.” Psychology often refers to this as a flow state, where we’re deeply engaged and focused on the experience in front of us.

But this certainly isn’t limited to sports or physical activity.

Just this past Tuesday night, I had one of these moments with my kiddos during story time. Instead of Daddy reading the dinosaur book to Charlotte and Parker, Charlotte decided to take the reins and read it to us.

There’s only one problem. Charlotte just started kindergarten and can’t exactly read yet.

So, she proceeded to create her own story based entirely on the pictures she saw on each page. It was one of the sweetest moments, made even better by the fact that Parker sat quietly beside her and listened while his big sister “read.”

For those few minutes, I wasn’t thinking about tomorrow’s schedule, my phone, work, or what needed to get done next. I was just there.

Other moments when time seems to stand still for me are far less eventful. Taking Charlie for a leisurely walk before 6:00 in the morning as the sun begins to rise. Standing on our deck and watching the sunset over the backyard. Getting completely absorbed in a beautiful bike ride. Playing basketball, especially back in my prime!

Sometimes it might even involve a work project I’m passionate about or a meaningful conversation with someone I care about, or even someone I’m just getting to know.

Different experiences. Same result. For a little while, the clock seems to disappear.

There’s another side to our perception of time that’s worth considering too: Why does life seem to move faster as we get older?

As adults, much of our lives can become routine. The same commute. The same work schedule. The same meals. The same workouts. The same responsibilities.

Routine isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, I rely heavily on routine in my own life. But when our days begin looking exactly like one another, fewer experiences stand out.

That’s where trying new things becomes valuable.

Take a different trail. Learn an instrument. Try a new activity. Read about something completely outside your expertise. Play a game. Travel somewhere new. Take your kids somewhere you’ve never been. Challenge yourself to learn a skill that you’re terrible at initially.

Novel experiences give our brains more distinctive moments to process and remember. They also challenge our brains to adapt and learn—a concept related to neuroplasticity, or our brain’s ability to change throughout our lives.

So maybe we can’t actually stop the clock like Adam Sandler. But you can find things that completely absorb you. Pay attention to what lights a fire under you. Create opportunities to be fully present with the people you love. And regardless of your age, continue challenging yourself with new experiences and skills.

These moments don’t have to be extravagant or time-consuming.

Sometimes it’s a beautiful bike ride. Sometimes it’s watching the sunset. And sometimes it’s sitting and listening to your five-year-old “read” a dinosaur book.

We can’t control how quickly the clock moves, but we can be a little more intentional about how deeply we experience the time we’re given.

Thanks for taking the “time” to read. 🙂