This phenomenon occurs to many of us, and scientists finally have an answer.
Even when we take a different route, the return journey feels shorter.
Initially, scientists believed that the “return trip effect” stemmed from familiarity. Since we traveled the same route, our brains are more aware of everything around us. Thus, when we return home, we are less affected and more focused on the perception of time. However, it turns out that this is not the root of the issue. Scientists found that similar effects are also observed during air travel (where the experience of going and returning is quite similar) or even when taking a different route.
The outbound journey feels quick, while the return is just waiting, and fewer people care about the time.
It turns out that the issue lies in how our bodies measure and experience time.
It is not about how we measure the passage of time but rather our evaluation of time based on memory. Throughout the journey, we don’t feel the difference in how time passes, but once it ends, it seems that the return trip is shorter than the outbound journey.
Additionally, when leaving home, we often have a plan for when we will arrive at our destination. This makes us more conscious of time and check the clock more frequently, creating a sensation that time is not passing.
The outbound journey is always more enjoyable than the return.
Moreover, there is the influence of optimism about the trip.
When we embark on a journey and feel excited about it, it creates a sense that it takes too long to get there. Therefore, when we prepare to return home, we often think that the return trip will also take a long time. But at this point, the circumstances are different, as we no longer feel the same joy as at the beginning. The sense of anticipation makes us think it must take longer to reach the destination, which is no longer the case on the return trip.
We can feel a similar effect when watching videos.
Scientists conducted experiments to see if a similar effect occurs when watching videos. They showed two videos of the same person riding a bicycle. Both were 7 minutes long, and the participants had to watch them to see if they could perceive the “return trip effect.”
The results: Yes! This phenomenon exists. People still feel that the video showing the cyclist returning home is faster than the other video.
