Three Mistakes to Avoid When Managing Time with ADHD
There are many different time zones in the world
In the United States, we have Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern Standard Time.
All of these time zones have 24 hours in a day. Within these 24 hours, we have a lot of decisions to make, such as:
What am I going to do today?
When do I need to be there?
How much time is this going to take?
Do I have enough time?
What if I don’t get everything done?
What if I forget something?
Guess what? There is one more time zone. One that not many people are aware of, but those that do, know it very well because you or someone you love lives in it everyday! It’s better known as...
The ADHD Time Zone
(CLICK HERE to Learn More about the ADHD Time Zone!)
According to ADDitude Magazine, 4.4% of the adult population has ADHD, but less than 20% of these individuals seek help for it.
ADHD time doesn’t function like other time zones we’re familiar with. It’s unique, messy, and not very consistent. However, it can also be creative, fun, and really exciting!
ADHD Time is Fluid
This means there is no real beginning or end to it.
The more interested you are in something, the faster times goes by. The less interested you are, the slower time goes by!
On the other hand, if you’re not interested at all, it usually doesn’t get done or it gets done at the very last minute. This could also be called procrastination!
With procrastination, you may find yourself running late, missing appointments, feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
I’ve had many clients tell me they never feel in control of their schedule. They live in reactive mode, falling farther and farther behind, and constantly fear that they are forgetting something.
Most of them are barely getting by. Often, they feel like all they are doing is treading water and getting absolutely nowhere.
Sound familiar?
In my work, I’ve noticed some patterns around Time and ADHD. These are the things we do that sabotage our best efforts.
Here are the 3 most common mistakes to avoid
Assuming You Will Remember
Relying on your memory is not a trustworthy strategy. You will forget because you get distracted (not on purpose but remember you have ADHD).
Write everything down! Put all of your appointments into your calendar.
Avoid confusion by only using one calendar - it will prevent overbooking.
Not Checking Your Calendar
Now you have your appointments in your calendar but you are not checking it on a regular basis. This is an appointment ready to be missed.
The best solution? Get into the habit of checking your calendar everyday, as much as possible.
In addition, make the necessary adjustments on a daily basis. Rarely does the day go as planned. If you are constantly looking at your calendar, you can make those adjustments and not be surprised.
Not Using Alarms
Have you ever thought you could do just one more thing before you have to leave somewhere? Then, the ‘one thing’ took longer than the 5 minutes you originally thought it would?
Use your alarms. They are critical because they remind us of where we need to be, and more importantly, when we need to leave to be there.
Try using different alarm tones for different occasions. At the very least, change the sound of the alarm from time to time. Your ADHD mind likes to be surprised!
Do you want to learn more about Time Management and ADHD?
*** This free download also includes a Daily Schedule to help you stay focused on your busiest days!
Thank you for your time and attention…
Until Next Time,
Nikki
