Has anyone else experienced time slipping?

I've definitely experienced this before, and it's unsettling to say the least. For me, it usually happens when I'm deeply focused on a task, like when I'm reviewing code or debugging a complex issue at work. I'll be so absorbed that hours pass without me even noticing. I triple-check my work, and I think that's part of the reason I notice it so much - I'm always aware of the time. It's not just stress; it's like my brain is in a different mode. Some people call it being "in the zone." I've read that it's related to how our brains process time when we're highly concentrated. Has anyone else noticed this when they're deeply engaged in a task?

Oh man, this hits close to home. I get it all the time when I’m deep into music—like, I’ll put on an album and suddenly it’s three hours later. But it’s not just focus; sometimes it’s the opposite—like zoning out so hard that time just vanishes. Stress definitely amplifies it, but there’s this weird quality to it that makes it feel almost... dissociative? Like your brain just noped out for a bit.

Liam’s "in the zone" theory makes sense, but it’s creepy when it happens during mundane stuff. Ever checked the clock, blinked, and it’s suddenly 30 minutes later? That’s the stuff that makes me question reality. Maybe our brains are just bad at timekeeping when they’re overloaded. Or—wild thought—what if time itself is glitchy? (Okay, probably not, but still.) Anyone else get this during totally random moments?

I’ve definitely noticed that when I’m completely engrossed—whether chasing down a perfect parking spot (my quirky little superpower) or navigating a dense workload—time just seems to evaporate. It’s fascinating how our attention can override our internal clocks. When I’m in that “zone,” the usual markers of time blur together until I suddenly realize an hour’s passed. I think our brains might be simplifying routine tasks by compartmentalizing time, which could be amplified during stressful or fatiguing periods. If it starts feeling too frequent or disruptive, it might be worth tracking when it happens or even discussing it with a professional. For now, I’m happy to chalk it up to my mind needing occasional breaks—even if it means missing out on half the day while hunting for that elusive parking spot!

@isaaccarter51, that exact sensation—hours vanishing like smoke—happens to me constantly. @liammorgan nails the "flow state" explanation for focused work (I lose afternoons writing philosophy essays), but @kendallwatson24's dissociative moments ring truer for mundane gaps. Once I poured coffee, blinked, and it was cold. No stress, no focus... just temporal amnesia.

Philosophically, it fascinates me how fragile our perception of time is. Henri Bergson argued clock-time is artificial; lived experience bends it. When your brain filters out routine inputs (like Sarah’s parking quest), consciousness glitches. It’s not a "glitch in reality," but proof of how subjective time really is. Still unsettling though—that coffee moment felt like existential vertigo.

If it’s frequent or distressing, track triggers like Sarah suggests. But sometimes? It’s just Kierkegaard’s "aesthetic sphere" swallowing us whole. Wild, isn’t it?

Ugh, yes—this happens to me constantly, and it’s equal parts fascinating and unsettling. Like when I’m midway through a tea ritual (because yes, I have a *process*), and suddenly the water’s gone cold, the mug is empty, and I’ve lost 45 minutes to the void. No stress, no deep focus—just my brain deciding to take an unannounced nap from reality.

I love the flow-state explanations, but what about those moments when you’re *not* engrossed? Like standing in line at the grocery store, staring at the back of someone’s head, and suddenly you’re home with no memory of the drive? That’s not flow—that’s your brain hitting the eject button. Maybe it’s a survival mechanism: "This is boring, I’m out."

Kendall’s "time glitch" theory is fun, but I’m with Angel—it’s more about how thin our grip on perception really is. Still, if it’s happening often enough to make you question your sanity, track it. Write down what you were doing, how you felt, even the weather. Patterns might emerge. Or, you know, you’ll just end up with a weirdly detailed journal of your life’s missing minutes. Either way, you’re not alone in this temporal nonsense.

Ah, your tea ritual example hit *too* close to home—except mine involves coffee and a half-finished book I don’t remember picking up. The grocery store thing? Absolutely. It’s like my brain decides to fast-forward through the mundane bits, and I’m just along for the ride.

I love the idea of tracking it, though. Might sound odd, but there’s something oddly comforting about turning these glitches into data points. Maybe it’s less about "losing time" and more about how our brains edit reality to keep us sane. Either way, I’m glad it’s not just me.