Why Time Felt Slower When We Were Kids (and How to Get It Back) — By Neha Singla
Do you ever wonder why summer vacations as a child felt like a whole lifetime… but now, five years pass and it feels like a blink?
Yeah. I felt that too.
In fact, this whole reflection started when I came across an old photo of me, sitting on a broken swing in my nani’s backyard, half my face covered in mango pulp and my soul absolutely present.
No phones. No rushing. No to-do list. Just the sound of a distant radio, birds, and the giggle that came so freely.
Time stretched. And now? Time sprints.
So… what happened?
Today, I want to take you through a journey — not just through memory, but through psychology, energy, and consciousness. And by the end of this blog, my intention is this:
You won’t just understand why time felt slower when we were kids — you’ll learn how to get that slowness back. Even in your fast adult life.
Part One: The Magic of Childhood Time
As kids, we were present. Period.
We weren’t watching the clock, we were watching ants build kingdoms. We weren’t worried about next week’s meeting, we were deeply engrossed in what color to use for our sky (spoiler: not always blue).
Time and the Brain
According to neuroscience, our experience of time is directly connected to how much novelty and attention we apply to a moment.
In childhood, everything is new. Your brain is constantly recording, interpreting, and storing fresh information. That slows down your subjective time perception.
As adults? Most of our days are predictable.
- Wake up
- Scroll phone
- Check mail
- Chase deadlines
- Repeat
Familiarity makes the brain stop “recording” as actively. And that makes time feel like it’s rushing past.
So the key here is: newness.
But there’s more to it.
Part Two: Why We Lost That Magic (Without Even Realizing It)
When I started doing 1:1 Akashic Reading sessions, I noticed a pattern: people would say, “I just don’t feel connected to time anymore.”
One client told me, “Neha, I feel like I’m watching my life like a movie I didn’t audition for. Days blur. Joy feels dull.”
This hit me.
We haven’t just grown up. We’ve grown disconnected.
From wonder. From slowness. From our own inner rhythm.
Instead, we live by:
- Alarms
- Calendars
- Productivity apps
- Performance metrics
We’ve become time’s prisoner. When we were once its playmate.
Part Three: How Your Energetic Field Perceives Time
Let’s talk energy.
In the Akashic Field — that soul-level dimension that holds your blueprint — time is non-linear. Everything is experienced through vibration.
Your soul doesn’t ask: “What time is it?” It asks: “What is the energy of this moment?”
When you’re deeply present, curious, or creative, you’re more aligned with your soul’s frequency. That’s why painting, dancing, or even laughing with your best friend makes time feel juicy and slow.
You’re not just enjoying the moment. You’re inside it.
That’s how time slows.
Part Four: 7 Ways to Make Time Feel Slower Again
Here’s the good stuff. Practical. Simple. Soulful.
1. Create More Firsts
Go to a new cafe. Take a different route. Learn a new recipe. First-time experiences stretch time in your nervous system.
2. Digital Detox Windows
Even an hour of no-screen time can reconnect your awareness. Walk without AirPods. Eat without scrolling. Just be.
3. Journaling the Mundane
Write about your lunch. The smell in your building corridor. Your tea’s exact flavor. Describing tiny details pulls you into mindfulness — and mindfulness expands time.
4. Micro-Akashic Check-ins
Close your eyes. Take 3 deep breaths. Ask: “What am I feeling? What is this moment teaching me?” This is not a full Akashic Reading. But it’s you tapping into soul-awareness.
5. Revisit Inner Child Joys
Remember mango pulp face? Go swing. Paint poorly. Make up a game. Reconnect with that part of you that once lived time.
6. Block Your Calendar for Wonder
Literally write: “WONDER TIME” on a Saturday. No plans. Just let the day flow. Wonder is the soul’s favorite teacher.
7. One Conversation, No Clock
Once a week, speak to someone with no time check. No agenda. Just stories. Laughter. Silence. Let your energy sync with theirs.
Part Five: Let’s Be Honest…
Will you slow down time every day? No.
Will your brain forget and rush sometimes? Absolutely.
But here’s the shift: Once you start noticing time’s texture again… you can choose to slow it. And your soul will thank you.
Part Six: A Personal Ritual I Love
Every year on my birthday, I take a “time pause.” No calls. No meetings. No Instagram.
I sit with tea. I open my Akashic Records. I ask: “What moments did I fully live this year? What did I rush past?”
This single ritual… changed my relationship with time.
Try it. Even once.
Part Seven: You Were Never Behind
If you feel like life is moving too fast and you can’t catch up, let me say this:
“You are not behind. You are just being called to come back to presence.”
Time didn’t betray you. You just forgot how to dance with it.
So start small. Pause more. Wonder more. Laugh slower. Cry deeper.
Because that is how we stretch time. And that is how we come alive again.
With all my heart,
Neha Singla
Akashic Reader | Soul Journey Expert
Neha Singla- Akashic Reader