You Can Slow Down Time with Efficient Productivity

Ever feel like time’s slipping through your fingers, especially when you’re juggling work, family, and your sanity all at once? One day it’s Monday morning, and then, poof, it’s Friday evening and you’re asking yourself, “Where did the week go?” Well, spoiler alert—it’s not that time speeds up as you get older. It’s that your brain is running on autopilot, and those “routine” days? They’re the real culprits behind time’s disappearing act.

However, there’s good news. Neuroscience (and some real-life hacks) show it’s possible to stretch or slow down time, not literally, but in the way you experience it. How? By blending new activities with purposeful productivity. Stick with me, and I’ll explain why shaking up your routine and staying fully engaged in tasks can make life feel richer, fuller, and slower—without actually adding more hours to your day.

Why Time Feels Faster as We Age

Think back to when you were a kid. Remember how summer vacations felt endless? Now compare that to adulthood, where entire months blur past in the blink of an eye. What happened? According to neuroscientist David Eagleman, “Time is this rubbery thing. It stretches out when you really turn your brain resources on, and when you say, ‘Oh, I got this, everything is as expected,’ it shrinks up.” Translation? The more you coast through familiar routines, the less your brain has to process, and the shorter those moments feel in hindsight.

As adults, we often default to routines—wake up, work, chores, scroll socials, sleep, repeat.

Sure, these habits are efficient, but they rob your brain of novelty. Those new, exciting moments that once made time feel expansive? They’re now few and far between because your brain isn’t launched into “learning” mode nearly as often. And suddenly, another week, month, or year is gone.

But here’s the thing—when you engage with life differently, challenge yourself, and stay focused on meaningful tasks, your mind starts to wake up again. And guess what? Time starts to “stretch.” This is where efficient productivity and new experiences come in.

The Link Between Productivity, Learning, and Time Perception

When you’re deeply immersed in an activity—whether it’s mastering a skill, tackling a challenging project, or trying something new entirely—your brain has to work harder to process information. And that’s a good thing! These activities create benchmarks in your memory, making time feel richer and slower when you reflect on your day or week. Even better? You don’t need massive life changes to shake things up.

By combining focused productivity with novelty (even in small doses), you can maximize how “full” your time feels. Here’s how it works:

1. Challenge Drives Engagement: Starting a new project, like launching a business, forces your brain to operate at full capacity. Every small win you achieve becomes a marker of progress, stretching your experience of time. Think about the last time you felt that adrenaline rush of trying something new—weren’t those moments unforgettable?

2. Learning Keeps Time Fresh: Continuous learning—whether you’re signing up for a new training course, exploring a new field, or picking up a creative hobby—injects “freshness” into your routine. When I learned Japanese and started building an AI app (because clocking out is not apparently something I am good at), I noticed the days felt longer in the best way. Why? Because every moment spent learning something new gave my brain plenty to process.

3. Planning Creates Flow: Efficient productivity isn’t about checking 20 random things off a to-do list. It’s about tackling fewer—but more meaningful—tasks with laser focus. When you enter that elusive “flow state” (you know, the one where hours melt away because you’re so absorbed?), not only are you maximally productive, but time feels slower because you’re present for every second.

6 Ways to Slow Down Time and Stay Productive

Here’s the fun part—taking control. You don’t need a total life overhaul to feel like you’ve “gained” time. Here are six steps you can start today to reshape how you experience each moment:

1. Break the Routine

Routine is the enemy of a stretched timeline. Start small by altering your daily habits. Take a new route to work. Eat lunch somewhere you’ve never been. Introduce yourself to someone new in your industry. These seemingly minor changes can signal your brain to re-engage.

2. Pick Challenging, Purposeful Projects

Engage in work that pushes you just outside your comfort zone. Whether it’s pitching a high-stakes client, developing a new product, or redesigning your website, aim for tasks that demand focus and creativity. Stretching your abilities creates moments your brain is more likely to log as meaningful.

3. Keep Learning

Sign up for that workshop you’ve been eyeing or finally crack open that book on a topic you’ve been curious about. Whether you’re mastering a professional skill or exploring something purely for fun, continuous learning keeps your mind engaged and sharp.

4. Define Your “One Thing”

In my book Work-Life Harmony, I emphasize the importance of defining your “One Thing” — the single most important task of your day that will drive the greatest impact or progress. By identifying this priority early, you create clarity and focus, allowing you to bypass the countless tedious routine tasks that often consume your time and energy. This approach encourages intentional action and ensures that your day is centered around meaningful work that aligns with your personal or professional goals.

5. Be Fully Present

Multi-tasking? Forget it. It’s a time-suck and drains your brain. Instead, focus entirely on what you’re doing—whether it’s a client meeting, brainstorming session, or even a coffee break. Being fully present slows your experience of time and makes memories stick.

6. Seek New Experiences Regularly

From learning a musical instrument to trying an unconventional sport or traveling to an unexplored destination, novelty keeps life vibrant. These moments are your brain’s equivalent of putting pins on a map. The more unique experiences you have, the “fuller” those weeks, months, and years will feel.

Final Thoughts – Your Time, Unlocked

Efficient productivity isn’t about cramming as much activity as possible into each day—it’s about being intentional, engaged, and open to novelty. When you take control of how you use your time, balancing focus with exploration, the days feel longer, richer, and undeniably more fulfilling.

Now here’s a challenge for you. What’s one “new” thing you could try this week to wake your brain up? Whether it’s tackling a work project with fresh energy, starting a side hustle, or even just exploring a different podcast genre, I can promise your brain—and sense of time—will thank you.

Because here’s the thing. You don’t need more hours in a day. You just need to make the minutes you already have count.