With the festive period upon us once again, you may be wondering: “Where has the year gone?” If it feels as though time is whizzing by too quickly, you might be experiencing a phenomenon called “chronophobia”.
Chronophobia is the fear of time passing. You might experience mild symptoms, such as a feeling of unease when you think about the passage of time. For some, though, symptoms can be more extreme – from panic attacks to an inability to plan for or think about the future.
Read on to learn more about chronophobia and how you can manage it in your day-to-day life.
Chronophobia can affect you in many different ways
Chronophobia, or the fear of time passing, can affect everyone differently. For some, it may feel as though time is rushing by uncontrollably, while others may feel as though time is dragging and passing too slowly.
It’s not clear exactly how prevalent chronophobia is, but psychologists believe that certain groups are at higher risk of developing it. This includes people who:
- Are elderly or terminally ill
- Have spent time in prison
- Have survived a traumatic event
- Have a history of anxiety, panic attacks, or other mental illnesses.
If you have chronophobia, milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and holidays can trigger your symptoms.
You can help to soothe mild symptoms using these 3 simple exercises at home
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to relieve the anxiety that chronophobia can cause. Here are three suggestions that you could use today if you’re feeling panicked about how quickly 2023 has whizzed by.
1. Spend time with animals
It may seem unrelated, but spending time with animals really can help to ease feelings of panic or anxiety related to time passing.
This is partly because animals are always living in the moment, so playing with a pet dog or cat, for example, requires you to be in the moment as well. Focusing on the here and now is a helpful way to reduce anxiety about what may happen in the future.
2. Write your thoughts down in a journal
Journalling has many benefits and one of them is the opportunity it affords you to organise your thoughts and stop them from racing.
Each day, by writing down what you’ve achieved or are grateful for, you can encourage your mind to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. Over time, this becomes easier, until your mind is more naturally drawn to think of positives than negatives.
What’s more, you can look back across your entries if you ever feel as though time is rushing past too quickly and you haven’t achieved enough. By looking back over your accomplishments, you can feel reassured that you’re using your time well.
3. Do exercise such as running or yoga
Exercise has long been linked to good mental health and more positive mood. Running, for example, can help to balance the level of cortisol – the stress hormone – in your body as well as boosting levels of feel-good hormones such as endorphins.
Meanwhile, yoga is about slowing down, being in the present moment, and optimising your breathing, which can naturally reduce stress and anxiety.
These are just two examples of exercise that can help you calm your thoughts and feel more at peace with the passing of time.
If you find that your chronophobia symptoms are more severe, it may be helpful to seek professional help from your doctor or a counsellor. Cognitive behavioural therapy can be a useful tool in reframing the thoughts that are causing you stress.
Get in touch
The fear of time passing by too quickly can sometimes be exacerbated if you’re worried about what might happen in the future. For example, what if you were to fall ill and be unable to work?
If the financial aspect of questions like this one is causing you concern, a robust financial plan could help you feel confident about your ability to handle challenges in the future.
To learn more about how our team can help you with this, please get in touch. You can email us at financial@barwells-wealth.co.uk or call us on 01273 086 311.
Please note
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate estate planning, tax planning or will writing.
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
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