I feel like I’m seeing one of the “I’m a writer” tropes a lot lately.

The “I used to be better” trope. This could be expressed in output, items published, ‘less sharp’ or ‘harder to focus’. Sometimes “I don’t read as much” or “I don’t write in as many genres as I did.”

TRUTH BOMB.

Everyone goes through this in one way or another. It’s easy to look back and feel we did this with more vigor or gusto. Or just in terms of speed. It’s not just writers. It’s humans.

REALITY: It’s not likely anything has changed enough to notice. When we remember things, they always seem faster than the current task. If we bring up the same memories often, then it’ll feel like it’s getting worse.

The more often you remember a specific time or event, the faster your brain puts it back together each time. So, often remembering gives the illusion of a faster pace.

And eventually we do start the natural decline. It’s basic biology that things stop functioning as well at certain ages.