Time is a liar. Honestly, if you’re sitting there scratching your head trying to remember if 3 years ago was what year, you aren't losing your mind. You're just human. We’ve all had those moments where we blink and suddenly realize a "couple of years" actually translates to half a decade.
Right now, in 2026, looking back three years lands us squarely in 2023.
Does that feel right to you? Probably not. For many of us, 2023 feels like it happened about twenty minutes ago, or perhaps a lifetime ago, depending on how much coffee you've had today. It was the year the world truly tried to find its "new normal" after the chaos of the early 2020s. It wasn't just a number on a calendar; it was a pivot point.
Why 2023 Matters More Than You Think
When people search for 3 years ago was what year, they usually aren't just looking for a math lesson. They are trying to anchor a memory. 2023 was the year of "The Great Reset" in terms of culture and technology.
Think back. This was the year OpenAI’s ChatGPT went from a niche tech toy to a global obsession. If you feel like your work life changed about three years ago, that’s why. We stopped talking about if AI would change things and started panicking about how fast it was happening.
It was also the year of the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon. Remember that? You couldn't scroll through social media without seeing neon pink clashing against the moody, grey tones of nuclear physics. It was a weird, vibrant time for cinema that actually got people back into physical theaters. That was 2023. Three years ago.
The Science of Why We Forget What Year It Is
Psychologists call it "Time Compression." Basically, our brains are terrible at keeping a linear tally of dates when our routines are disrupted.
David Eagleman, a neuroscientist who has spent years studying time perception, suggests that our brains judge time based on new memories. When life gets repetitive—like working from home or following the same digital loops—our brains "clump" those memories together. This makes a three-year gap feel like a single, blurry weekend.
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When you ask 3 years ago was what year, your brain is trying to reconcile that "blurry weekend" with the actual astronomical passage of time.
Consider the "Holiday Paradox." When you are on a vacation, time seems to fly by because you're having fun. But when you look back at that vacation, it feels like it lasted a long time because you formed so many new, distinct memories. The last three years have been the opposite for many people: long, grueling days that, in hindsight, disappear into a vacuum because they lacked "novelty anchors."
A Snapshot of the World 3 Years Ago
To help you place yourself in 2023, let's look at what was actually happening. This isn't just trivia; it's the context your brain uses to file away your life experiences.
In the world of sports, the Kansas City Chiefs took home the Super Bowl LVII ring. It was the "Kelce Bowl," where two brothers played against each other, a storyline that dominated headlines for weeks. If you remember watching that game, you were living in the year we are talking about.
Economically, 2023 was the year of "The Vibescession." Experts were screaming about a recession that didn't quite arrive in the way people expected, yet everyone felt broke because inflation was biting hard. If you remember your grocery bill suddenly leaping by 20%, that was the 2023 experience.
Significant Markers from 2023:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared an end to the global health emergency for COVID-19 in May. This was a massive psychological shift for the planet.
- King Charles III was crowned in the UK, the first coronation most people living today had ever seen.
- India became the most populous country on Earth, overtaking China.
- The "Twitter" bird died and was replaced by the "X" logo, a move that still confuses people to this day.
How to Calculate Any "Years Ago" Date Instantly
You don't need a PhD in mathematics, but sometimes the brain just freezes. Here is the simplest way to do it without relying on a search engine every time.
Take the current year (2026). Subtract the number of years (3).
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$2026 - 3 = 2023$
If you are looking for a specific date, remember that "3 years ago" relative to today depends on the month. If today is January 18, 2026, then three years ago was January 18, 2023. If you were born in 2023, you'd be a toddler right now, probably causing chaos with a juice box.
The Digital Amnesia Factor
We have to talk about how the internet wrecks our sense of time.
Because we consume "evergreen" content—videos and articles that look new but might be years old—our internal clocks get fried. You might see a "new" recipe video today that was actually filmed in 2023. If you don't check the timestamp, your brain logs that information as "now."
This is why looking up 3 years ago was what year is such a common search. We are constantly being gaslit by our own digital feeds. We see a celebrity scandal or a tech breakthrough and think, "Oh, that just happened," when in reality, it’s been three years and the world has moved on.
Finding Your Own 2023 Anchors
If you really want to remember what 2023 felt like, look at your photo library on your phone. Scroll back.
You’ll likely find:
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- Photos of a hobby you started and then immediately quit.
- Screenshots of memes that aren't funny anymore.
- Pictures of a "hybrid work" setup that you've probably changed three times since then.
These are your personal "temporal landmarks." They bridge the gap between a cold number—2023—and your actual lived experience.
Actionable Steps to Reclaim Your Timeline
If you feel like time is slipping away or you're constantly confused about what year it is, you can actually "stretch" your perception of time. It’s a trick used by high-performers and researchers alike to make life feel longer and more meaningful.
Change your environment. The reason the last three years feel like a blur is likely because you haven't changed your scenery enough. Take a different route to work. Go to a new grocery store. These small "shocks" to the system force your brain to record new data, which makes the year feel "thicker" when you look back on it later.
Document small wins. Don't just wait for the big moments like weddings or new jobs. Write down one interesting thing that happened each week. In 2029, when you're wondering what happened three years ago, you won't have to guess. You'll have a map.
Check your subscriptions. Seriously. Go through your bank statements for 2023. You'll likely find a streaming service or a gym membership you signed up for "three years ago" that you haven't used in two. It’s the most practical way to see how much time has actually passed—and save some money while you're at it.
Stop letting the years blend together. 2023 was a massive year of transition, and 2026 is moving just as fast. Ground yourself in the present by acknowledging the past, then get back to making the current year count.