It seems that the older we get, the faster time flies. But it turns out that our perception of time is subjective — it depends on your age, routine, and the hours you devote to rest and sleep. Engineer Adrian Bejan from Duke University studied the problem of time's 'inconsistency.' The conclusion: physical time doesn't match subjective time. Your perception of time differs from another person's.

'In 24 hours — undeniable on every clock. But physical time doesn't match subjective time. Your perception of time differs from another person's.' Subjective time depends on the speed at which our brain processes images — and the older we are, the slower those processes become. When you're young and there's much to discover, time seems to move slowly. With age, the brain's 'lag' creates the illusion of time flying by.

The very first and most important thing I'd advise: stop rushing and trying to do everything.

Yes, we're used to it differently — we were trained since childhood to compare ourselves to the neighbor's kids who are doing art class (and painting brilliantly), learning English, reciting Pushkin by heart, finishing homework fast, and constantly going on excursions with friends...

'What can I do today to change my life?' American businessman George Adair put it perfectly: 'Everything you dream of is on the other side of your fear.' His philosophy is simple: if you want to live the life you dream of, you must overcome fear. And for that, you need to believe in the result. Between fear and results — there's a chasm. And the only way to cross it is to start.

The magic of the morning — that's what it's about.

Countless studies have proven the productivity of morning hours and the importance of how and with what we begin our day. Bestselling author Matthew Kelly wrote in his book The Rhythm of Life: 'On the one hand, we all want to live better. On the other, we're not willing to change even the smallest thing. The degree to which you take responsibility for everything happening in your life fully determines the power of your personal strength to change or create anything.' He suggests: start changing any area of your life in the morning, before 8 a.m.

'So figure out how to make your day start with an hour alone with yourself,' a wise person once told me. I barely suppressed an eye-roll — I don't even have time for breakfast — but there was no choice. Either I start changing something, or I write off my life completely. And I started.

'I'm a night owl, this is impossible for me!' or 'I have to get up for work, shower, do my makeup, ideally cook breakfast… When?!' — that's what was racing through my head. And probably yours right now. But let's think about why mornings specifically. First, your energy reserves, motivation, and willpower are at their peak. It's all downhill from there as the day goes on.

What to do during this hour? The options are many. Here are the ones I find most important:

  1. Meditation — not necessarily in lotus position with pranayama. Sit on the floor on a mat or on your bed, play some background sound or enjoy the silence. Just be with yourself for 10–15 minutes.
  2. Morning pages — an exercise that has helped unlock the creative potential of millions. Write 3 pages continuously, pouring the stream of chaotic thoughts onto paper. Don't compose sentences, don't choose words — just write. It clears the brain of rumination, lets you process emotions, and helps you see the light that's inside each of us.
  3. Gratitude — as soon as we start noticing even small joys from the previous day, life begins to seem (and actually is) full of good events and pleasant moments.
  4. Movement — yoga, stretching, or cardio. Any physical activity wakes you up, removes sleep residue, and activates vital processes in the body.

The question everyone asks: how do you not quit?

There will always be reasons to sleep a bit longer, skip the morning rituals, be lazy, or be in a huge rush. Always. The key isn't to push yourself without understanding why. The key is knowing what results you want in your life. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about. I'm a champion procrastinator. Laziness is basically my middle name. But if you want to change your life — there is no other way.

Each time you choose the easy path over the right one, you shape your personality. Just think — what kind of person are you? And who would you like to become? Our lives really do pass quickly, but each new day is a unique opportunity to change everything, to shift the course of habitual events, and to step up to the next level. What choice will you make today?