You’re Not Time Blind. You’re a Time Optimist.
“‘Time blind’ is saddled with shame, something people with ADHD already face in abundance. ‘Time optimist,’ on the other hand, is a positive reframing that reduces shame and makes feedback easier to accept.”
Do you often assume you have more time than you actually do? Do you confidently block out time for a task only to discover your estimate was wildly ambitious?
Many people call this “time blindness,” but I prefer the term “time optimist.” You believe you can accomplish more than the rules of space-time allow. As a best-case-scenario thinker, you don’t always account for the little things that can throw you off course.
What’s the difference between time blindness and time optimism, you might ask? On the surface, not much — any form of inaccurate time estimation creates challenges in our lives and relationships. But there is an important distinction: “Time blind” is saddled with shame, something people with ADHD already face in abundance. “Time optimist,” on the other hand, is a positive reframing that reduces shame and makes feedback easier to accept.
💡 Free Download! ADHD Time Assessment Chart
So, time optimist, how about channeling that ambition into these time-management strategies?
How Do You Feel Time?
How do you know when five minutes have passed? How do you sense it’s almost time to switch tasks or head out the door? Do you rely on an internal clock or do analog clocks and alarms help you see and feel time?
Whatever the method, it’s crucial to understand how you perceive time and which tools help you track it accurately. Think of an area of your life where your time estimates are more spot-on. What strategies or tools make that possible, and how can you apply them elsewhere?
Go Backward
Working backward from an event, activity, or deadline helps you refine your estimates by forcing you to consider every step involved. From the present, the future can look optimistically distant, but counting backward often tells a different story. It improves accuracy and promptness.
⏱️ Read: Losing Track of Time? 8 Ways to End ADHD Time Blindness
Be Real – and Patient
Better time-estimation and time-management systems come from practice and honest self-reflection.
Our time habits are deeply ingrained. Instead of trying to change overnight, ask yourself: What’s one small thing I can do differently to start shifting this pattern?
Expect to refine your approach slow, patiently and regularly. If you keep ignoring alarms meant to keep you on track, the system isn’t working — and that’s OK. Without shame, investigate why and experiment with other tools. Remind yourself that you want to be punctual most of the time because you value your time and that of others too.
Ever the optimist, look for signs of improvement rather than dwelling on missteps. Tell yourself, “I’m 15 minutes late — still not ideal, but better than last time. Now I know what to tweak for next time.”
Time Management Tips for ADHD: Next Steps from ADDitude
- Free Download! Get There On Time, Every Time
- Read: 15 Time-Management Tips for ADHD Brains
- Read: We Don’t See Time; We Feel It
The content for this article was derived from ADDitude’s “Solve My Problem!” sessions with Sharon Saline, Psy.D.
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