How to use Life Progress Bar
To see your life progress, enter your date of birth in the input field and optionally set a life expectancy (the default is 80 years, which you can adjust up or down). The tool displays two animated progress bars: one showing what percentage of the current year has elapsed, and one showing what percentage of your expected lifespan has passed. The year bar resets on January 1 each year; the life bar grows continuously as you age.
The year progress bar is universal — it shows the same percentage for everyone regardless of age, since it tracks the calendar year's elapsed fraction. The life bar is personal — it reflects your date of birth and your chosen life expectancy. Both bars update in real time so you can watch the percentage tick forward as seconds pass. The tool is intentionally minimal and contemplative — it is designed to spark reflection, not anxiety.
Why use our Life Progress Bar?
- Dual progress bars — year progress (universal) and life progress (personal) shown together
- Adjustable life expectancy to personalize the calculation
- Real-time updating — progress ticks forward as seconds pass
- Intentionally simple and distraction-free design
- 100% browser-based — your date of birth is never sent to any server
- Both bars update in real time — watch the percentage tick forward as seconds pass
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the year progress percentage calculated?
The year progress percentage is the number of seconds elapsed since January 1 00:00:00 UTC of the current year, divided by the total number of seconds in the year (31,536,000 for a regular year, 31,622,400 for a leap year), multiplied by 100. The result updates every second. At midnight on January 1, the bar resets to 0%. At 11:59:59 PM on December 31, it reaches approximately 99.9997%.
How is the life progress percentage calculated?
The life progress percentage is the number of days lived since your date of birth, divided by the number of days in your chosen life expectancy (life expectancy in years × 365.2425, accounting for leap years), multiplied by 100. For example, a 30-year-old with a 80-year life expectancy is at 37.5% (30 ÷ 80 = 0.375). The bar updates daily as your age grows.
Is this tool meant to be morbid?
The tool is inspired by the concept of memento mori — a reminder of mortality that, paradoxically, often increases motivation and appreciation of the present. Many users find that seeing time as a finite, quantified resource helps them prioritize what matters. That said, life expectancy is statistical, not personal destiny — individual outcomes vary enormously based on genetics, lifestyle, healthcare, and countless factors that a simple percentage cannot capture.
What life expectancy should I use?
The default is 80, which approximates the global average life expectancy. For a more personalized estimate, the WHO publishes life expectancy tables by country, gender, and age — a 30-year-old has a different remaining life expectancy than a newborn. You might also consider family history and health factors. Or simply use a round number that feels meaningful to you — the exact value matters less than the habit of perspective the tool encourages.