The Impact of Event Boundaries on Memory and Experience

Memories are structured around event boundaries which organize our experiences. These boundaries are created when we move to different places or have distinctive experiences. However, during the pandemic, the lack of diverse experiences due to staying at home led to blurred event boundaries and a sense of timelessness. Changing contexts by meeting new people, going to different places, and experiencing new things helps in creating distinctiveness in memory. Vacations and breaks from routine activities serve as antidotes to the Groundhog Day effect, enhancing memory formation by providing unique and memorable experiences. The value of these distinct events lies in creating lasting memories since our assessment of life's quality is based on what we remember rather than what we experience.