Man shares theory on why time feels like it has gone so fast since 2020 — and he makes a lot of sense

Remember those lockdown days, when our homes became prisons, and stepping out was equivalent to inviting death? The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped our lives in ways we didn't even realize. Most of us can't believe it has been almost five years since it all happened? Time seems to have flown faster since 2020. Reflecting on the same, Thomas Mulligan, who goes by @mulligan.tv on TikTok, offered an interesting explanation— Time Perception Theory.

Mulligan argued that the way our brain perceives time changes throughout our lives. As per his theory, as we grow older, each year becomes just a smaller fraction of our life. And, over time, as we find ourselves stuck in repetitive experiences, we often tend to lose interest and unconsciously slip into autopilot mode. "On your first birthday, one year makes up 100 percent of your life. By your second, one year makes up 50 percent of your life. By the time you turn 20, one year makes up five percent of your life," Mulligan explained. Aging hence creates the illusion of time moving faster. 

He further explained his point with an 80-mile run analogy. While the first 10 miles (16 km) would feel exhilarating as it would be a first-time experience, the activity gradually would feel repetitive and less engaging. "The only way to get as much out of that run as you can is to make the course as interesting as possible for as long as possible," Mulligan asserted. 

Mulligan's theory created a flurry of reactions on TikTok. A person shared, "The way my life seems to be flying by is so upsetting occasionally. I’m 42 but feel like I was just 20." Another noted, "5 years is a lot." In a similar vein, a comment also read, "Being trapped in the routine of work, home, work, home really does that to a person." Another echoed, "In 2020, if someone hypothetically spoke about 2025, I’d think, 'Wow, that’s so far away,' but now it’s happening!" As the comments poured in, one reasoned, "We live boring lives, and the happiest people who live ‘long’ lives are the people who get out and enjoy themselves." 

Chiming in, a person noted, "Also the fact of doing nothing during the lockdown and working more from home after, your memory doesn’t document anything of note, so it didn’t really exist. I don’t remember all the days I did the same thing." A netizen shared another interesting theory, "The internet's general 'voice' aged. For a long time, the internet had a millennial 'voice,' but they're aging out of the majority, and now it's a Gen Z 'voice.'" An equally valid argument read, "Maybe it’s because I wasn’t old enough to even think about the time that passes, so I don’t really remember how fast it was before the pandemic."

You can follow Thomas Mulligan (@mulligan.tv) on TikTok for more such interesting theories.