How can you stop this cycle of always being late and improve your time management?
It happens all too often. You know there’s a deadline, doctor’s appointment, meeting, or date with a friend. But every time you find yourself running late and always apologizing for being late. It’s not a great feeling but what can you do?
People with ADHD often struggle to manage their time. Being late can impact your life at work, at home, and with relationships.
Find out what it is that makes you late the most and ideas on how to correct it. We've got a few suggestions that may help with your biggest time stressors.
Is it getting ready in the mornings?
Try reducing your morning stress by preparing the night before.
Create a list of things to accomplish each morning, stick to that list, and do only what’s on the list.
Pull together your morning outfit, including shoes, and accessories, and get your lunch or any office necessities ready to grab and go.
Is it time blindness?
Time blindness is the inability to sense the passing of time and it can make nearly every aspect of a person’s life more difficult. The important thing to understand is that it’s more like a sensory issue, not an intentional disregard for time.
Get a planner? Try tracking your time so you have a better grasp of how long different tasks will take. Start by logging the project and time started. Log any breaks, stops, and starts. A timer is a great tool for this.
Is it forgetting appointments or deadlines altogether?
Write it down! Use an app on your phone, laptop, or a paper calendar to log appointments and deadlines in multiple places. The more times you repeat the task, the better you will remember it. The calendar on your phone will most likely let you color code appointments; red for work, purple for home, orange for health, or whatever color helps you!
Ask for help! It is OK to let your friends and family help you. Give them complete permission to point out the time, send you friendly reminders, and don’t be annoyed when they doThese strategies can help make your life with ADHD more manageable. By learning how to prioritize your tasks better, you can have a positive impact on your life at work, at home, and with relationships.
To help you better cope with your ADHD symptoms, consider seeking out a provider who has training and experience in caring for adults with ADHD and can give you additional time management strategies tailored to meet your specific needs.
Don't allow ADHD to go untreated. See the difference in the quality of life a manageable treatment can make. https://www.adhd.md/treatment
List of Resources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/time-management-tips-20409
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/lesser-known-adhd-symptoms#1.-Time-blindness
https://psychcentral.com/adhd/time-management-tips-for-people-with-adhd