Time blind
As a mom with ADHD and Autism, I understand firsthand the challenges that come with time blindness. It’s a daily struggle that affects not only me but also my neurodivergent kids.
In this post, I will dive into the world of the time blind and it’s impact on our daily lives.
Including:
- What is Time blindness
- How hyperfocus plays a role
- What “waiting mode” is
- Daily struggles due to time blindness
- Some practical tips that have helped me and may be valuable to fellow neurodivergent parents and individuals.
What is Time Blindness?
Time blindness is a common trait among those with ADHD, autism, autihd, or other neurodiversities.
It refers to the difficulty in accurately perceiving and managing time.
The more scientific term for time blindness is Time Agnosia.
The Concept of Time Agnosia (AKA- Time Blindness):
Time agnosia, which is difficulty in understanding and feeling time passing, can be quite familiar to people with ADHD or autism.
It’s like having a clock that doesn’t tick the way it should in our minds.
For us, time might feel fuzzy or confusing, making it hard to know when things happened or how long something took.
Essentially, our perception of time is not always a linear concept; it can feel abstract, elusive, and ever-changing.
This often leads to the frustrating experience of either losing track of time entirely or getting hyperfocused on a task and losing hours without realizing it.
Hyperfocus and Time
Hyperfocus – a state where we become deeply engrossed in a task to the exclusion of everything else–
— is a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it allows us to delve deep into tasks we’re passionate about, sometimes achieving remarkable results.
On the other hand, it can also make us oblivious to everything else and it often distorts our perception of time. Hours can pass like minutes, leaving us surprised at how much time has elapsed.
“Waiting Mode”
Many of us experience what we call “waiting mode” before scheduled appointments or activities.
It’s that time leading up to an activity where we are unable to focus on or do anything else.
It doesn’t matter if we have important tasks that need to be done.
Or if we have enough time to do them.
It doesn’t even matter if we want to do them.
We feel completely unable to do anything else in the time leading up to the appointment due to the fear of losing track of time, often coupled with anxiety about the upcoming activity itself.
It’s like rumination, where our thoughts are constantly drawn back to the appointment.
Executive dysfunction and a strained relationship with time only make it harder to use this time effectively.
More on waiting mode in this helpful article here
Challenges Created by Time Blindness
- The Struggle of Daily Tasks:
- Managing daily tasks can be overwhelming.
- The to-do list seems endless, and time feels like it’s slipping through our fingers.
- Time blindness can make it difficult to estimate how long each task will take, leading to frustration when we can’t accomplish everything we set out to do.
- Punctuality Puzzles:
- Neurodivergent individuals often find it hard to arrive on time for appointments, school, or work.
- The concept of time can feel abstract, leading to frequent lateness.
- Procrastination Predicament:
- Time blindness can also contribute to procrastination.
- We may struggle to start tasks until the pressure of an impending deadline becomes overwhelming.
- Unpredictable Routines:
- Maintaining consistent daily routines can be elusive.
- Time-blind individuals may find it challenging to stick to schedules, impacting meal times, bedtime routines, and more.
- The Fear of Lateness:
- Many neurodivergent individuals, including myself, have an ingrained fear of being late.
- This fear can lead to overcompensation, where we arrive ridiculously early for appointments, gatherings, or even daily activities.
- While this punctuality is commendable, it can create anxiety and disrupt our schedules as we try to avoid the perceived horror of being late.
Strategies to Keep Track of the Clock:
Now that we’ve explored the nuances of time blindness, let’s discuss some practical strategies to help us navigate this challenge.
Here are some tips that have helped me and might benefit you as well:
- Visual Schedules:
- Creating visual schedules or using time management apps can help us stay organized and be aware of our time. Make sure to put it somewhere within your line of sight as often with ADHD or Autihd, out of sight is out of mind. 🙂
- Set Alarms:
- Use alarms or reminders on your phone to notify you when it’s time to transition between tasks or activities.
- I have a ridiculous number of alarms on my phone for every day of the week. But, it is extremely helpful in keeping me on task and preventing me from missing important tasks if I fall into a hyperfocus. (i.e. getting my kids on and off the bus.)
- I even set the alarm tones to reference something related to what it’s for, so even without looking I know what it’s alerting me to. (School bus timers have the magic school bus theme song for example) You can also record your own words and set them as the alarm tone depending on what phone you have.
- I have a ridiculous number of alarms on my phone for every day of the week. But, it is extremely helpful in keeping me on task and preventing me from missing important tasks if I fall into a hyperfocus. (i.e. getting my kids on and off the bus.)
- Use alarms or reminders on your phone to notify you when it’s time to transition between tasks or activities.
- Prioritize Tasks:
- Identify the most crucial tasks for the day and focus on them first. Break them into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Time Blocking:
- Allocate specific time blocks for different activities, and stick to these schedules as closely as possible. Key word is try. I use my alarm setting to help with this, but I’ve learned to give myself some extra time as a cushion before the next in case I need to finish something I am doing before I can switch tasks.
- Practice Self-Compassion:
- Remember, being neurodivergent means navigating a unique path. Be kind to yourself, and don’t be too hard on yourself for perceived time-related shortcomings.
- Break Tasks into Smaller Steps:
- Divide tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This reduces the sense of overwhelm and makes it easier to start and complete tasks. Sometimes if a task seems too big and I don’t know where to start, then I won’t start it at all. Breaking it down into steps helps a lot with this. I’ll sometimes even write the steps out on paper to help myself visual the process.
- Establish Routines That Work For You
- Or at least try to. create some kind of overall structured daily routine. Having a predictable schedule can help anchor your sense of time and improve time management. We all want a routine but sticking to them can be hard.
- I find a barebones daily outline type of routine works best for keeping me aware of the time of day.
- My basic routine includes:
- Getting up at the same time
- Kids on and off buses at the same time
- Serving meals at the same set time
- Etc..
- My basic routine includes:
- Having even just a few things that stay the same and span the day are enough for me to keep perspective on how much of the day has gone by.
- I also have alarms set for all of these events with a 15 minute heads up before they occur, so that I have time to stop what I am doing before I need to do them.
- I find a barebones daily outline type of routine works best for keeping me aware of the time of day.
- Or at least try to. create some kind of overall structured daily routine. Having a predictable schedule can help anchor your sense of time and improve time management. We all want a routine but sticking to them can be hard.
- Seek Support:
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or professionals. They can provide accountability and guidance in managing time if you’re still struggling to do so on your own. Sometimes even a counselor or therapist who specializes in ADHD may have some great tools that you haven’t thought of yet that could help.
- Embrace Flexibility:
- Recognize that time management might always be a bit challenging, and that’s okay. Embrace flexibility and learn to adapt when things don’t go as planned.
Take Back Your Time
Time blindness is a significant challenge for neurodivergent individuals, especially for those of us raising neurodivergent kids. By understanding this trait and implementing practical strategies, we can navigate our daily lives more effectively.
Embrace your neurodivergent qualities, and remember that time is a concept that can be tamed with patience and practice.
Progress may be slow, but every small step toward better time management is a victory.
I hope this resonates with others in the neurodivergent community and provides some insight for those interested in learning more about our experiences. Together, we can celebrate neurodiversity and support one another on this journey.
