If I had a dollar for every time I confidently said, “I’ll leave in five minutes!” and then looked up an hour later, I’d be rich enough to hire someone to keep me on schedule. Being late isn’t about not caring—it’s about my brain deciding that time is an optional suggestion.
Time blindness is the ADHD way of turning time into a mystery. You can’t feel it, you can’t see it, and you definitely can’t trust it. If you’ve ever been confused about how 10 minutes stretched into an hour—or vanished entirely—let’s talk.
What Even Is Time Blindness?
Time blindness means struggling to sense how time passes. It’s why you think you have plenty of time to get ready and then realize you’re already late. It’s not that you’re lazy or bad at planning—your ADHD brain just isn’t wired to track time the way others do.
It’s like living in a world with two times: “now” and “not now.” Everything that’s “not now” might as well not exist until it’s suddenly “now.” That’s why deadlines sneak up on you or why tasks always seem to take longer than you thought.
How ADHD Messes with Time and makes you late
- “I Can Do It All in an Hour!”
ADHD brains love optimism, even if it’s wildly unrealistic. We think cleaning the house, running errands, and writing emails will magically fit into 45 minutes. Spoiler: it never does. - Hyperfocus Strikes Again
Ever sit down to do one thing, get totally absorbed, and then realize you forgot everything else? That’s hyperfocus—a classic ADHD move. It’s great for productivity (sometimes), but terrible for keeping track of time. - Switching Gears is Hard
Moving from one task to another feels like trying to stop a freight train. Even if you know you need to leave, your brain just… doesn’t shift. Next thing you know, you’re rushing out the door.
How It Shows Up in Everyday Life
- At Work: Missing meetings or starting projects way too late.
- With Friends: The dreaded “on my way” text when you’re still at home.
- In Relationships: Your partner wonders why you’re always running behind or scrambling last minute.
It’s not that we don’t care—it’s that time just… slips away.
How to Outsmart Time Blindness
- Set Alarms for Everything
I don’t mean just one alarm—I mean one to prepare, one to move, and one to actually leave. ADHD brains need layers of reminders. - Timers Are Your Best Friend
Visual timers (like apps or kitchen timers) help you see time passing. Trust me, it’s a game-changer. - Add Buffer Time
Think something will take 20 minutes? Budget 40. Being realistic about how long tasks take makes a huge difference. - Make a Habit of Checking the Clock
Set an alarm every hour to glance at the time. It’s a small step, but it helps you stay grounded in reality. - Celebrate Wins
Made it on time? Finished early? Celebrate like you just won an Oscar—your brain will thank you.
The Takeaway
Time blindness isn’t about being careless—it’s about having a brain that processes time differently. While it can feel frustrating (or downright chaotic), there are ways to work with your brain instead of against it. Start with one tip, see how it feels, and build from there.
And if you’re wondering, “Wait, could this be ADHD?” check out my blog on Hidden Signs of ADHD to dive deeper. You’re not alone in this—let’s figure it out together.
