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Letter: How to make time go faster – by ignoring it

Published 11 February 2026

From Robert Checchio, St Dunellen, New Jersey, US

Regarding our perception of “busy-ness”: while our emotions may play a role in our perception of how busy we are, the effect may be indirect. The more proximate cause of our perception of time as going by quickly or slowly might simply be the attention we pay it. When we are involved in a pleasurable experience, little attention is being given to the passage of time. On the other hand, when forced to participate in a displeasurable task, a common reaction is to repeatedly check our watches. So the way to make time move faster may be to simply ignore it (10 January, p 38).

Issue no. 3582 published 14 February 2026

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