Have you ever noticed how differently people experience time? Some of us live by the clock, with every moment planned, scheduled, and accounted for. Others seem to glide through their day, guided not by minutes or hours but instinct and flow.

In my research on how people transition through time, I’ve found that most of us fall into one of two distinct categories: clock timers or event timers. These time orientations don’t just affect how we structure our days; they also shape how we think, feel, and even what we buy.

Clock timers live by external time. They wake up to an alarm, eat breakfast at a designated hour, and arrive at work precisely when the clock dictates. Their day unfolds in neat, measurable units, each activity clearly marked by a start and an end. A clock timer’s sense of order comes from synchronizing with the external rhythms of time.

On the other side of the spectrum are event timers, who follow their internal sense of flow. They wake up naturally—some days earlier, some days later. They eat when they feel hungry, not when the clock says it’s lunchtime. They begin their work when they feel ready and transition between tasks based on an inner feeling of completion rather than a scheduled block on a calendar.

Neither approach is inherently better; each has its advantages. Clock timers tend to be efficient, punctual, and reliable. Event timers, meanwhile, are often flexible, creative, and more attuned to their natural rhythms. But these orientations also come with psychological consequences that ripple into unexpected areas of life—including how we experience nostalgia.

In a series of studies I conducted with my colleague Jannine Lasaleta, we explored how the different time orientations influence people’s connection to the........

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