Time is a Mirage: How 2020 Warped Our Sense of Time and What We Can Do About It

Remember when the days felt distinct, when summer was truly summer and weekends had their own energy? It seems that time has become one long blur since 2020, and here we are—feeling like we’ve sprinted through the past few years without a clear memory of the path we took. This collective warping of time has left many of us feeling both disconnected and adrift. But why did 2020 alter our perception of time so drastically, and is there a way to reclaim it?

The Great Disruption: Why Time Feels Different Now

Before 2020, our lives ran on routines and rhythms we didn’t think twice about. We had daily schedules, seasonal events, and simple traditions that served as markers—visual reminders of time passing. But then came the pandemic, and suddenly, we found ourselves stripped of these natural indicators. Days stretched on with a sameness that made Tuesday look like Saturday, and the passing of seasons was marked more by changing headlines than changing weather. With no anchors, our sense of time drifted, leaving many feeling like we lost years instead of months.

Studies show that when our routines are interrupted, our brains struggle to form memories. Without memorable events to act as mile markers, we lack reference points, making months feel like weeks, and years collapse into one. It’s no wonder we look back on 2020 as if it were yesterday or a lifetime ago—our minds never had a clear beginning or end to hold onto.

The Psychology of “Pandemic Time”

For years, psychologists have studied how our perception of time shifts under stress. When faced with high uncertainty, we tend to live in survival mode, focusing only on the immediate present. Sound familiar? From daily updates on virus cases to financial and social upheaval, we’ve been glued to the present like never before. This state of constant alert dampens our ability to look forward, and when we can’t look ahead, it feels like time has frozen.

Interestingly, the pandemic forced us to reevaluate priorities and reshape our goals. Many of us found that “time off” was not a leisurely break but a period of heightened anxiety and introspection. We’re now returning to “normal,” but time feels heavier, leaving us wondering: Are we still running the same race, or have we been catapulted into a new one altogether?

Reclaiming Time: How to Break Free from the “2020 Time Trap”

So, can we fix this perception issue? Can we anchor ourselves in a way that restores time’s clarity? The good news is yes. By resetting our routines and reintroducing meaningful markers in our lives, we can regain some sense of order. Here are some practical steps:

1. Create Personal Milestones
   Look at the year ahead and set milestones—be it a project, a new hobby, or planned experiences. These moments act as anchors, giving you something to look forward to and creating memories that will help delineate one season from the next.
2. Revive Old Traditions (Or Make New Ones)
   Family dinners, Sunday hikes, seasonal gatherings—these aren’t just pleasant rituals; they’re time markers. By celebrating recurring events, we create a natural rhythm that helps define our lives year by year. Missed a season due to the pandemic? There’s no time like the present to bring it back or make it anew.
3. Prioritize Breaks and Change of Scenery
   Working from home has blurred the line between work and rest. To reintroduce variety, plan time away—even if it’s a weekend trip or a day spent exploring a local park. Fresh settings stimulate new memories, and these help to ground us back in a normal flow of time.
4. Reflect and Journal
   Take a few minutes daily or weekly to jot down highlights, emotions, and reflections. Journaling serves as a record, reminding us of moments that might otherwise slip away. Looking back on these entries, we get a more complete picture of our lives, month by month.

Time as a Choice

Ultimately, time isn’t something that simply happens to us; it’s something we experience. While we may have little control over the big events that shape our world, we can decide how we react to them and how we use the time we have. As we move forward, let’s be intentional about creating lives that are vivid, meaningful, and well-marked.

Instead of letting time trickle away, let’s anchor it with purpose and perspective. Because while 2020 may have altered how we perceive time, it’s up to us to reshape how we live it.