A Matter of Time

Ever noticed that you and the people close to you don’t always see time the same way? Maybe you spend most of your energy thinking about what’s ahead, while your partner prefers to live in the moment, and your sibling tends to dwell on the past.

Psychologist Philip Zimbardo studied this and found five distinct ways people relate to time. They are Past-Negative, Past-Positive, Present-Fatalistic, Present-Hedonistic, and Future-Oriented.

Each perspective shapes our choices and behaviors, and every one of them comes with both strengths and weaknesses. There is even a short eight-minute quiz that shows your own time preferences. You can print your results and compare them against what researchers call a balanced time perspective.

The way we view time is shaped by things like childhood experiences, religion, language, economic background, and culture. When we realize that people frame time differently, it becomes easier to show empathy and work well together. We can also shift our own perspective depending on what’s needed. For example, embracing a Present-Hedonistic view can make a holiday feel more joyful.