Comments on: Why Does Coming Back Always Seem Faster Than Going Somewhere?

By: Anil Polat

Anil Polat — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:42:04 +0000

In reply to www.travelwithkevinandruth.com. Interesting you mention that, I find the return-trip effect especially noticeable when traveling by foot.

By: www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

www.travelwithkevinandruth.com — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:55:47 +0000

Ha! we are part of that 73%. It’s so totally, true. Especially noticeable when hiking, and we do a lot of hiking!

By: Anil Polat

Anil Polat — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:10:52 +0000

In reply to TheWorldOrBust. Outlier! you'd be in the other 27% of the study :)

By: TheWorldOrBust

TheWorldOrBust — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:50:38 +0000

Pshh, coming back alwwwwaaayysss seems longer to me!

By: Anil Polat

Anil Polat — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:21:42 +0000

In reply to Wftristan.

Sort of, though even adjusting the expectation of how long a route will take alters perceptions of time. In the the study when participants were told to expect a long journey and quick return and felt the opposite for both.

I imagine it like the CEO of the brain (our consciousness) making engineering estimates (this widget will take 10 days to manufacture), then feeling like something’s wrong when it really ends up taking 14 days. When the next similar widget comes along, CEO expects it and isn’t as surprised when it takes 2 weeks (though I’m guessing CEO will still try to shave some time off of that.) That’s when we speed in the car I guess 😛 but not while meditating! 😉