This week I’m writing to you from a very different place than last.
When my last newsletter came out, I’d been to 5 countries, I was working in my first big girl job after college, and I’d never choreographed a musical theater number in my life.
Now, I’ve been to 8 countries, I’m starting a new job, and I’m working as a choreographer for a musical.
That’s all to say that there’s been a lot of change in my life lately.
And I hate change.
It’s terrifying, unpredictable, and causes heart palpitations.
But (unfortunately), it’s also good for us.
Because change is the only thing that makes time slow down.
How to Slow Down Time
What is the novelty effect?
Remember when you were young, and it felt like it took ages to reach 18?
But then your twenties hit, and entire years seem to vanish in the blink of an eye?
There’s actual cognitive science behind that.
As kids, our brains are constantly encountering novelty.
Every school year has new subjects, new teachers, and new rules. We are constantly learning to navigate new experiences, which forces our brains to operate in a sort of “high resolution,” actively processing and encoding every detail.
But as we age, our brain becomes accustomed to our daily experiences. We find a daily routine, a weekly routine, and even an annual rhythm that repeats—and our brain begins to run on autopilot.
When days are identical, the brain doesn’t bother saving duplicate memories. It instead compresses them.
So while a routine-heavy Tuesday might feel slow in the moment, looking back on the year makes it feel like it evaporated in an instant.
How to apply the novelty effect
That’s why jumping in the deep end—whether that’s learning a new skill, visiting a new local spot, or trying to teach choreography to high schoolers—is the secret to slowing down time.
The discomfort you feel with change is proof that you’re creating new reference points.
But you don’t need to overhaul your entire life to introduce novelty.
Try simply saying “yes” to a little bit of friction:
- Sign up for a class you’ve never done before, like pottery or dance.
- Take a different route to work or to run errands.
- Read a book in a genre that you typically don’t read.
- Volunteer for a project where you only feel 60% ready.
The moral of the story is to embrace change.
Try something new, go somewhere new, learn something new.
Future you will thank you.
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