Navigating ADHD and Time Blindness

Always running out of time?

A cartoon brain holding a clock in its hands

Hi ADHDers!

How’s everyone doing? I’m halfway through my improv level 2 class and I have a live performance coming up - I’m so geeked!

Anyways,

Do you ever found yourself running out of time quickly? or does time seem to escape you ALL the time?

Yes? Me too!

Let’s talk about time blindness and time agnosia, however you refer to the bane of my life!

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What is Time Blindness?

A man wearing a green top raising his arms up to his side looking in a state of confusion with question marks by his head.

I first learned of this term around 4 years ago and I couldn’t believe there was a word that perfectly explained what I was experiencing.

Some people with ADHD struggle with the perception of time and processing time. Such as not realising how quickly time passes, and not being able to estimate how long something should take you to do.

This could ultimately lead to:

• Constantly arriving late to places

• Constantly running behind schedule

• Finishing things late

• Struggling to prioritise everything you’ve got going on

• Having too much to do

• Days escaping you with not much to show for it

• Overcommitting

• Problems in friendships and relationships

• Issues with performance or quality of work

and the list goes on!

Believe it or not, I did not realise this pattern of behaviour until I was diagnosed with ADHD and learned more about it.

So why do so many of us struggle with time blindness?

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ADHD and Time Blindness

A study found that:

“…it may be hypothesized that the perception of time is a mediating factor between ADHD and deficits in executive functioning and can result in significant difficulties for people with ADHD” - Ptacek R, Weissenberger S, et. al

I don’t know about you but I feel like I have all the time in the world.

I need time to sit around and do nothing until I’m mentally prepared, extra time to get ready, buffer time after a deadline, and more time!

Is it just me?

I think my time blindness is due to a combination of:

• Challenges perceiving time

• Procrastination

• Getting easily distracted

• Getting restless

• Poor organisation

• Saying yes to everything

• A sprinkle of anxiety

Narrowing it down to the above was the first step in managing time blindness.

I think a lot of the time, strategies on how to manage ADHD traits might not work for you because you haven’t dealt with the root cause.

A strategy will just be a temporary fix until you address what’s beneath the surface.

Now take some time to pause and think about why you struggle with time blindness.

*This is the part where you comply and write things down*

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How to manage Time Blindness

Okay, so here is what has been working for me! Some of these might seem obvious, but sometimes we all need a reminder and things are worth trying again.

Arriving on time

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Completing things on time

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Why managing Time Blindness is important to me

1. The stress and anxiety of constantly not completing things until the last minute caused headaches and panic and messed with my nervous system.

2. The feeling of not being in control was too unsettling for me and could ruin my day.

3. I was missing important things and disappointing people.

4. Additional responsibilities meant that I was forced to figure out a system so I’m not constantly drowning and all over the place.

I mean, I still struggle with time blindness now and again but for me, this is something I’m able to work on. For my peace of mind and to make sure I show up and deliver for people who are counting on me.

What’s worked for you?

Rach, with ADHD.