For the past two years, my life felt like it was passing in a blink of an eye. Many people have told me that when you enjoy what you're doing, time seems to tick faster. I almost agree, but I've come to realize I don't actually want time to move so quickly. ## The Nature of Fast Time Time accelerates when you fall deep into something—regardless of whether you enjoy it. You might be in love with your professional work, feel no fatigue, and suddenly find time flying by. Or perhaps you're deeply absorbed in work you don't particularly enjoy, yet time still moves fast. The key insight: whether you love it or not, deep engagement makes time tick faster. Conversely, when you have nothing to do—sitting idle at the office with no tasks—time crawls. But consider this scenario: you desperately need a holiday from August 1st to 10th. You arrive at your destination excited, and then, in what feels like a blink, you're back home on the 10th. ## The Cost of Fast Time I don't have a problem with how fast time moves, but I've realized something important: when time ticks fast, you miss the small things. A lot of small things. For me, these small moments matter deeply. To appreciate and feel grateful for life's details, I've chosen to make my time tick slower. I remember reading _Tuesdays with Morrie_, where Morrie could feel grateful simply for the warmth of a cup of hot tea in his hands. Morrie found meaning in something as simple as holding warm tea. For me, I discovered I was missing even simpler things - like actually feeling the difference between Monday and Tuesday, or having a real conversation at work. ## What Changed for Me My previous job perfectly illustrates this phenomenon. For two years, it felt like today was Monday, then suddenly Friday, then Monday again. Do you know what I mean? Today, I'm grateful because in my current role, I can actually feel each day—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'm not entirely sure what changed, but I think the main difference is that my current company actually talks to me, and I can talk to them. I don't know how else to describe this "talking," but hopefully you understand the connection I mean. Feeling my days return was just the first step. The real question became: now that I could feel time again, what did I want to do with it? ## Finding My Rhythm Realizing this shift, I'm ready for a fresh approach to making time tick slower. My 9-5 remains the same, but I now dedicate four hours daily to what I actually love—building [Kugie](https://kugie.app). It's just a side project, but I love creating things that impact others. I picture Kugie like Takako's uncle from _Days at the Morisaki Bookshop_, who said: "It's like the line from Naoe Kinoshita in _Confessions of a Husband_: 'My boat travels lightly, drifting aimlessly at the mercy of the current.' That's how I want to live my life with this shop." ## Drifting Forward This intentional slowing down isn't about being less productive—it's about being more present. It's about feeling the warmth of that morning coffee, noticing the small victories in my work, and truly experiencing each day rather than watching them blur together. If you're reading this and feeling like you're falling behind, remember: **everyone has their own phase**. What matters is that you define your goals and set your pace to match your destination. You don't need to rush. The key is finding your rhythm so you can be more present in your journey. Sometimes the most meaningful progress happens when we dare to drift a little, to notice what we might otherwise miss in our rush toward the next milestone. --- <div style="border:1px solid #EEE; background:transparent; padding:20px; border-radius:5px; text-align:center;"> <h3>Never Miss an Update</h3> <p>Get my latest thoughts on digital knowledge management and personal growth delivered directly to your inbox.</p> <a href="https://setasena.substack.com" style="display:inline-block; background:#3D85C6; color:white; padding:10px 20px; text-decoration:none; border-radius:4px; font-weight:bold;">Subscribe</a> </div>