Purchases that mark the passage of time

Certain purchases mark the passage of time. A new box of detergent, tube of toothpaste, and jar of honey all seem like they will last forever when you first open them. And the books we read and the songs we listen to read often mark significant moments in our lives.

As we get ready to start a new year, I've been reflecting on how many "passage of time" purchases I've made during the COVID era. Besides looking at a clock or at a calendar, how do you keep track of the passage of time?

Paradoxically, the COVID era seems to be moving extremely slowly day-to-day, while simultaneously racing by when I reflect on the fact that the "before times" feel relatively recent. Is this dynamic part of the COVID era or merely something that I've had time to reflect on?