It's all a matter of time

Abstract

One of the most precious values of the modern age is time. Despite the increasing life expectancy achieved by medicine and by the time-saving automation technologies, for most of us, time is never enough. Beside manifold upheavals and psychological consequences (1), the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent quarantine have impacted on our subjective perception of “time”, opening a frightening Pandora’s box. The healthcare emergency has thrown the population into a surreal novel where the time perception may be shrunk and, simultaneously, expanded or suddenly frozen without control and full awareness. Individuals are waved by events like leaves lashed out by an unexpected wind which brings unpredictable changes. Thus, our existence is no more like before: the rhythm of our days has changed, and nothing could be the same in our next future as the pandemic has left indelible marks in habits and perspectives.