"This time-distorting effect may be purely evolutionary in nature. During our human evolution, whenever we were in danger, it would have been more advantageous to assume that the threat was closer than it really was, just to be on the safe side. If you were one of our caveman ancestors and heard a rustling in the bush, it would be safer to assume that a lion is stealthily closing on you and about to eat you than to merrily keep going your way and assume the lion is too far to catch you (and end up being eaten)! If you exaggerate the proximity of danger, you will be able to defend more efficiently, in case the threat turns out to be real. Therefore, evolution has wired our brains in such a way as to instinctively perceive a potential loss as nearer in time than a gain, which explains why time feels like running faster when anticipating a loss. This brings us to the other major factor that influences our experience of the future that is how we see ourselves in relation to time."
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