How the Perception of Time Affects Your Mental Health More Than You Think
Your relationship with time influences your
well-being more than you might imagine. It's not the clock that dictates your
life, but how you feel, live, and interpret it. Two people can have the same 24
hours, but one feels overwhelmed while the other feels calm. This difference
lies in the perception of time, which is subjective and linked to your mental
health.
When time feels scarce, you live in a constant race,
trapped in hurry and anxiety. When it feels endless, like in boredom or
loneliness, life loses its flavor and direction. This perception is not just a
feeling; it has a real impact on your body, mind, and emotional well-being.
How Your Perception of Time Reflects on Your Mental
Health
- Always Living in the
Future: If your mind is focused on what's coming,
it's easy to fall into anxiety. Constant worries like "What
if...?" or "I don't have enough time" create a sense of
urgency and exhaustion. You live running, but without enjoying.
- Stuck in the Past: If
your attention is on what was—mistakes, losses, or regrets—sadness and
guilt dominate your emotional state. Time becomes a burden and not an
opportunity.
- Feeling That Time Is
Slipping Away: This perception generates stress and a
feeling that "you're not making the most of life." It's common
in those who live on autopilot, always postponing rest or enjoyment for
"when there's time."
- Perception of Stagnant
Time: This happens when days seem to repeat
without meaning. It's frequent in states of depression, where time loses
its value and everything seems immobile.
The most important thing is that your perception of
time shapes your quality of life. If you feel you're always running, your body
lives in constant alert mode, which can cause anxiety, insomnia, and
exhaustion. If, on the other hand, time feels empty or stagnant, your energy
and motivation plummet, feeding apathy or sadness.
How to Transform Your Relationship with Time to
Take Care of Your Mind
- Focus on the Present:
True peace is in living the moment you have, not the one that has passed
or the one that hasn't arrived yet. Small mindfulness exercises (like
conscious breathing or savoring a meal without distractions) help anchor
your mind to the now.
- Review Your
Relationship with Hurry: Ask yourself:
"Is everything urgent, or have I learned to live in a hurry?"
Sometimes, stress about time is more a belief than a reality.
- Redefine Your Sense of
Time: More than quantity, seek quality. A minute
of true presence is worth more than an hour of distraction.
- Balance Past, Present,
and Future: The past is for learning, the future for
planning, and the present for living. If you find that balance, your mind
will be more at peace.
Changing your perception of time is not easy
because it's often related to deep beliefs, like the fear of "wasting
life" or the feeling that "you're not enough if you're not
productive." That's why this is not a journey you should undertake alone.
In therapy, you can explore your relationship with
time and discover what emotional patterns are behind your anxiety, your sense
of emptiness, or your constant struggle against the clock. Beyond managing your
schedule, it's about healing your way of living time.
If you feel that time is your enemy or that life is
slipping away, it's time to pause and listen to yourself. Sometimes, the first
step to reclaiming your time is to stop and ask for help
RewPaz
