Written By Trina McMahan

Our ADHD brains are incredible things. So much so, that we even perceive and process TIME differently than a neurotypical brain. Think about that. It’s not really so much that an ADHD brain is blind to the passing of time, but more that an ADHD brain can have difficulty prioritizing it. This issue of time blindness can lead to many lifelong struggles for those with ADHD and also those closest to someone with ADHD.

Some examples of what an Adhd brain might run into in relation to their time blindness:

  • Being late for things - often.

  • Arriving way to early to avoid being late (over-compensating)

  • Struggling to plan further ahead than just a few days (or even hours)

  • Ignoring deadlines until the last possible second

  • Having no idea how long it will take to do something (underestimating and overestimating)

  • Only two real times exist in your mind - NOW and NOT NOW

Having said all of this, as someone who has had an ADHD brain for 36 years - I have come up with a few key tips to help me with my time blindness. There is no cure for ADHD or Time Blindness - but having skills to help cope with the symptoms are KEY.

Ideas to help with Time Blindness:

  • Wear a watch. (smart watch or regular ol’ watch will do) This sounds so basic and simple, but seriously. Keep the time ON YOUR BODY so that you can glance at it periodically and keep yourself on track.

  • Record how long it takes you to do tasks. Keep this handy so that you can reference it. This is completely eye-opening for someone with time blindness. Highly recommend.

  • Keep a clock in basically every room. I’ve even heard of people with ADHD keeping a clock in their shower. Time is sort of “out of sight, out of mind” for us, and seeing the time as often as possible is HUGE.

  • Learn to use alarms, reminders, etc. <— another critical ADHD tool

  • Awareness. Being aware that you have time blindness is the first step. Once you know that this is an issue, things will start clicking.

For more information on Time Blindness visit: Click Here

Also, check out one of my favorite timers HERE (shown below)

Trina McMahan
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