Why did January feel so long?

I’m sure I am not the only one who thinks that January just dragged on and on and on. And that happens every year but why? 

Time perception is something tricky sometimes time feels like if goes by in a flash sometimes it is as slow as a turtle. I think that most people have heard the expression “time flies by when you are having fun” what most people don’t know is that it’s actually true. Everyone experiences time differently, and there are some factors that affect this perception. For example, test have proven that caffeine makes time feel like it goes faster. Fear is also a factor that affects time perception., in a study scientists asked someone how time felt right after watching a scary movie and most people said it felt slower. But the most important thing when it comes to the topic at hand is dopamine. 

Dopamine allows you to fell happiness, motivation, and satisfaction. When we are excited, more dopamine is created when we are bored less is made. The problem with January is that it follows the most exciting month ever, December. December is full of celebrations and excitement that are mostly towards the end of the month. This makes your body create a lot of dopamine which in turn makes time feel like it goes by faster. Some scientists believe that going back to work on January right after the fun of winter break and the festivities creates a lot of boredom. Making the month feel a lot longer. 

But that is not the only theory. In 1992, Professor Dan Zakay suggested that time goes by slower when we are more aware of time. In January a lot of people are more aware of time because they are trying to work more or go to the gym more often (does anyone really stick to their resolutions?) because of that the month feels slower. The fact that everyone is talking about how January is so long makes it longer because it is making everyone more aware of time. 

All we can do is wait for January to finish and NOT MENTION A THING  

Maria Matos, 9.1