Repeated activities can be difficult to distinguish in hindsight. That can make several similar days feel like one familiar pattern. Routine can still be useful and enjoyable; the question is whether you want more memorable moments within it.
A practical way to explore it
Try comparing two recent weeks rather than comparing your whole childhood with adulthood. List three specific events from each week, then ask which details are easy to place in time. This is a reflection exercise, not a diagnostic test. A quiet week can be satisfying even if its days blend together afterward. You do not need to make every day novel or productive. If you want more distinct memories, choose one enjoyable activity and pay attention to its details.
Keep the interpretation in context
Try a small change you actually enjoy: a different walking route, learning a skill, or noting a few details from the day. These are ways to pay attention and create memories, not proven ways to literally slow time.
Sources and further reading
- [Memory and judgments of time — research abstract](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36442582/)
- [Attention and remembered time — review](https://www.montana.edu/rblock/documents/papers/BlockGruber2014.pdf)