As you grow older, does it feel like the years just whoosh by, with time somehow moving faster than it used to? You’re not alone – it’s a common experience, and there’s actually an established phenomenon that may help explain why the years seem to fly by and why certain periods of your life stand out more vividly in memory.
The reminiscence bump refers to the tendency of older adults to recall more personal experiences from their adolescence and early adulthood than from other stages of life. According to Dr London, this may be because these formative years are often filled with major milestones and new experiences, making memories from this period particularly vivid and enduring.
Your core memories may be concentrated in early adulthood as you grow older, but does that mean you stop forming memorable experiences after your 20s? Not at all. Dr London highlights that the reminiscence bump can be renewed by novel experiences. So, the good news is that major or meaningful life events later in adulthood can still create vivid, lasting memories – it is totally under your control, and the rest of your life does not have to be boring.
He further elaborates, “The good news is, this reminiscence bump doesn't have to be confined to your 20s. It can show up wherever novelty does. A new skill, a new place that you've never visited before, doing something really hard. Autopilot is the default. And this default is what costs us years that we can't find even when we go looking for them. Time didn't speed up. Your life inputs have changed. The same inputs you are in control of.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Dr Jeremy London is a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon with more than 25 years of experience. He has an MD from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, and his focus is on the intersection of lifestyle, preventive medicine, and evidence-based longevity.
Eshana Saha is a fresh face in lifestyle and cultural journalism, bringing a refined, multidisciplinary perspective to the intersection of entertainment, fashion and holistic wellbeing. With less than a year of professional experience, she has quickly adapted to high-pressure editorial environments and currently works full-time with HT Media. Prior to this, she interned for nearly six months with Hindustan Times’ entertainment and lifestyle vertical, where she gained hands-on experience in digital reporting, trend analysis and editorial storytelling. Based in New Delhi, Eshana specialises in comprehensive coverage of major cultural moments — from international film press tours to the curated aesthetics of global fashion showcases, award shows and music-centred events. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from St Xavier’s University, Kolkata, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Delhi, equipping her with a strong academic foundation and a keen ability to deconstruct complex cultural trends into clear, high-impact narratives. Beyond the red carpet, Eshana has developed a growing focus on health and wellbeing reporting. She bridges the gap between celebrity-driven trends and practical, evidence-informed lifestyle advice, ensuring her work remains both aspirational and grounded in editorial rigour. She has extensively covered the health implications of Delhi’s air pollution crisis, while also playing a key role in amplifying expert-led insights on women’s health and mental wellbeing, helping translate complex medical perspectives into informed, impactful public awareness. An artist at heart, she explores multiple creative forms — from visual arts and music to culinary experiments — and brings a creative’s eye for nuance, texture and detail to every story. Whether analysing runway dynamics or examining emerging wellness movements, she remains committed to accuracy and the highest standards of contemporary journalistic ethics.Read More
