You know that weird thing where some days feel like they go on forever, but the whole week passes by in a blink? Or when you’re busy and distracted and suddenly it’s nighttime, but on other days, one awkward conversation feels like it lasted an eternity?
Yeah. That’s not just your brain being dramatic. It’s doing something totally normal, and kind of fascinating.
Science is now catching up with something a lot of us have felt for a while: how we move affects how we experience time. Seriously. Studies are showing, yes, that movement doesn’t just get you from point A to B. It actually shifts how fast or slow time feels as it passes.
And this has a lot to do with how we heal, cope, and look after our mental wellbeing.
Why stillness can feel so heavy
When we’ve gone through something hard (stress, burnout, loss, heartbreak) there’s often a natural urge to stop. To slow down. To just… do nothing for a minute. And that’s not laziness. That’s your system saying, “Give me a second.”
Stillness makes time feel slower. Sometimes painfully so. But it also gives your brain space to process. To catch up with everything that’s just happened. It’s like pressing pause during a really intense movie scene, not because you’re quitting, but because you need a breath.
This is why stillness matters. It’s not glamorous. You won’t always feel “productive.” But it’s often in those quieter moments that real mental recovery begins.
When movement speeds things up
On the flip side, moving (literally moving) can help speed up your sense of time. That’s part of why doing something active often makes us feel better. It’s not just endorphins (though those help). It’s that movement can shift us out of mental quicksand and into a feeling of momentum.
This doesn’t mean you need to start training for a marathon. It can be a walk. A stretch. Doodling. Cleaning out one drawer. Even just changing your posture can make your brain go, “Okay. Something’s happening. We’re still in the game.”
Movement gives you something to do with what you’re feeling. It gives your nervous system a bit of regulation. It creates a sense of forward motion, especially helpful when life feels stuck.
Why do we need both?
We don’t believe in quick fixes. But we do believe in real tools. And one of the best things you can learn is when to be still, and when to move.
That’s why in our workshops, we do both. We make time to stop, reflect, breathe. To sit in discomfort when needed. And then, we shift. We move. Through creative activities, expression, play, even awkward dancing (which, yes, counts).
It’s not about being “productive” or “zen.” It’s about giving your brain and body what they actually need.
So… what to do?
This doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s what you can experiment with:
- Feeling overwhelmed? Try a few minutes of stillness. No phone. No fixing. Just sit, breathe, and let things settle.
- Feeling stuck? Move a little. Doesn’t matter how. Stand up. Shake your arms. Walk in a circle. Just change something.
- Feeling both? That’s valid. Alternate. Pause, then move. Move, then pause. See what feels better.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to notice how your body and mind are responding, and adjust the rhythm.
Final thoughts
Time doesn’t always behave. But you have more influence over how it feels than you might think. The way you move (or don’t) can shift your experience of time, your mood, and your mental state.
Stillness helps you process.
Movement helps you regulate.
Together, they help you recover.
Mental Bytes is here to help you work with your brain, not against it. And sometimes, that starts with something as simple as knowing when to move, and when to be still.
Want to join a workshop? Bring your body, your mind, and whatever you’re carrying. We’ll help you make space for all of it.