We spend a massive amount of energy pretending the clock isn't ticking. It's a weird human quirk, right? We plan for retirement, buy 30-year mortgages, and argue about what to have for dinner like we have an infinite supply of Tuesday nights. But the reality is that death is just around the corner for all of us, whether that "corner" is fifty years away or five minutes. That’s not being morbid. It’s actually one of the most practical realizations you can ever have.
When you sit with that fact—really sit with it—the fluff in your life starts to evaporate. You stop caring about that passive-aggressive email from Sarah in accounting. You suddenly realize that the "perfect time" to start that project or tell someone you love them was probably yesterday.
The Psychology of Memento Mori
There’s a long history of people obsessing over this. The Stoics called it Memento Mori—remember that you will die. It wasn't meant to be a bummer. Instead, it was a tool for clarity. Marcus Aurelius, an Emperor of Rome, basically wrote notes to himself saying that he could leave life right now, and that should determine what he does and says. Imagine being the most powerful man in the world and reminding yourself you're just as mortal as the guy cleaning the floors. It keeps you humble. It keeps you focused.
Most of us live in a state of "experiential avoidance." That’s the fancy psychological term for burying our heads in the sand. According to research published in the journal Psychological Science, when people are reminded of their mortality in a non-threatening way, they actually become more likely to prioritize intrinsic goals like personal growth and relationships over extrinsic stuff like money or fame. It’s like a mental reset button.
Why We Are Hardwired to Ignore the Exit Sign
Our brains aren't exactly built to handle the concept of non-existence. Terror Management Theory (TMT), developed by Jeff Greenberg, Sheldon Solomon, and Tom Pyszczynski, suggests that most of human culture is just a giant coping mechanism to deal with the paralyzing fear of death. We build monuments, write books, and create religions to feel like we’re part of something permanent.
It makes sense. If you walked around every second thinking death is just around the corner, you’d probably never get your laundry done. You’d be a nervous wreck. So, the brain filters it out. It places the end of the story in a vague, blurry future.
🔗 Read more: Monroe Central High School Ohio: What Local Families Actually Need to Know
The problem? That blurriness leads to procrastination. It leads to the "someday" trap.
Real Talk About Regret
Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse, spent years talking to people in their final weeks. She wrote a famous book about it. She didn't find people wishing they’d worked more hours or bought a faster car. The number one regret was: "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."
That’s a heavy one.
When we ignore the fact that death is just around the corner, we prioritize the wrong things. We live for the "other"—the neighbors, the followers, the boss. We wait for permission that’s never coming.
The Death Clock and Productivity
Some people take this very literally. There are apps now that literally countdown the estimated days you have left based on actuarial tables. It sounds terrifying. Yet, for a certain type of person, seeing that number—say, 4,000 weeks—is the ultimate productivity hack.
💡 You might also like: What Does a Stoner Mean? Why the Answer Is Changing in 2026
Oliver Burkeman wrote a whole book titled Four Thousand Weeks. His argument is basically that once you accept your limitations, you stop trying to do "everything." You realize that you can't do everything. And that’s a massive relief. You get to choose a few things that actually matter and let the rest go.
Cultural Perspectives on the End
Not every culture treats the end like a taboo subject. In Bhutan, there's a saying that to be a truly happy person, one must contemplate death five times a day. They don't hide it. They see it as part of the cycle, like the seasons.
In many Western societies, we’ve medicalized and hidden death. We put it in sterile hospital rooms behind closed doors. We use euphemisms like "passed away" or "lost." But hiding it doesn't make it go away; it just makes us less prepared for it. By acknowledging that death is just around the corner, we actually become more present in the room we’re currently standing in.
The Science of "Near-Misses"
Have you ever noticed how people who survive a near-death experience (NDE) or a serious health scare suddenly change their entire lives? They quit the job they hate. They move to the mountains. They finally start painting.
Dr. Sam Parnia, a leading expert on the study of the brain during death, has documented thousands of these accounts. The common thread isn't just the "white light" stories; it's the radical shift in values afterward. They stop fearing the end because they’ve seen it, and they start valuing the "now" with a ferocity most of us can’t imagine.
📖 Related: Am I Gay Buzzfeed Quizzes and the Quest for Identity Online
But you don't need a heart attack to get that perspective. You just need a little bit of honesty.
How to Use Mortality as a Life Tool
Honestly, it’s about the small stuff.
When you're stuck in traffic and your blood pressure is spiking, remind yourself that this is a finite moment. Is this how you want to spend one of your limited hours on Earth? Probably not. It doesn't mean the traffic goes away, but the anger usually does. It makes the coffee taste better. It makes the conversation with your kid more important than the notification on your phone.
We think of death as the enemy of life. It’s not. It’s the frame around the painting. Without the frame, the painting is just a mess of colors that goes on forever. The frame gives it shape. It gives it value.
Actionable Steps for Today
You don't need to go full goth and buy a skull for your desk, but a little bit of perspective goes a long way.
- Audit your "Somedays": Write down three things you’re waiting to do "when the time is right." Realize the time will never be perfectly right. Pick the smallest one and do something toward it in the next 24 hours.
- The 10-Year Test: When you’re stressed, ask: "Will this matter when I’m on my deathbed?" If the answer is no, give it exactly five more minutes of your energy, then stop.
- Write your own "Living Obituary": Not the one that lists your jobs, but the one that describes how people felt when they were around you. If it doesn't match your current behavior, change the behavior.
- Say the thing: If you appreciate someone, tell them now. Waiting for a funeral to say nice things is a waste of a good compliment.
- Declutter the "shoulds": Stop doing things because you feel you should satisfy some vague societal standard. If your time is short—and it is—spend it on things that feel vital.
Accepting that death is just around the corner isn't an invitation to give up. It's a command to wake up. It’s the ultimate reminder that this life, right now, is the only one you’re guaranteed to have. Use it.