If you have ADHD, chances are you’ve experienced time blindness — also known as “Wait, how is it 3 p.m. already? I just woke up” syndrome.
You don’t mean to be late for everything. In fact, you started getting ready two hours early… only to somehow still be rushing out the door with 8 items in one hand and your dignity in the other.
If this sounds familiar, congratulations: you’re not lazy, rude, or inconsiderate.
You’re just battling a brain that treats time like a suggestion rather than a concrete reality.
(“Ten minutes to get ready” = “plenty of time to reorganize my entire closet and start a new Netflix series, right?”)
Let’s dive into what’s going on — and how you can (finally!) stop running late for everything, from dentist appointments to brunch with friends.
What Is Time Blindness Anyway?
Time blindness is when your brain struggles to sense or manage the passage of time.
If neurotypical people experience time like a steady ticking clock, people with ADHD experience it like a blurry funhouse mirror. Some moments stretch on forever; others are gone in a blink.
Example:
You sit down to scroll Instagram “for five minutes.” Two hours later, you’ve accidentally deep-dived into conspiracy theories about why pigeons are government spies, and you’re definitely late picking up your kid from soccer.
Or:
You think, “I’ll leave at 2:30.” It’s 2:22, and you haven’t showered, packed, or located your left shoe, but somehow you’re still shocked when you walk out the door at 3:07.
It’s not you being irresponsible.
Your brain genuinely misjudges how long things take and underestimates how much time has passed.
How Time Blindness Shows Up in Real Life (and Makes You Want to Scream)
- Double-Booking Yourself: “Sure, I can go to the baby shower AND the baseball game! They’re both at 2 p.m., but one is only 30 minutes away. Or 90 minutes. Whatever, I’ll figure it out.”
- Procrastination Station: Starting a project the night before it’s due because you swear there’s still plenty of time (spoiler: there is not).
- Getting Ready Olympics: Thinking you can shower, shave, blow-dry, apply full glam makeup, AND clean your kitchen all in the 17 minutes before you’re supposed to leave.
- Constant Apologies: “Sorry I’m late!” becomes your brand. You’ve said it so much that your friends are considering having it printed on a T-shirt for you.
So… How Do You Actually Stop Being Late?
Good news!!
You don’t have to resign yourself to a lifetime of sprinting into rooms apologizing and out of breath.
Here are some strategies that actually work:
1. Externalize All Your Time Management
You cannot “just try harder.” (Trust me, if it were that easy, you wouldn’t be here.)
Instead, use external tools — clocks, alarms, timers — because your internal clock is basically on vacation in Aruba.
- Set alarms for everything: And not just one alarm! Try “start getting ready” alarms, “leave in 10 minutes” alarms, and “get your butt out the door RIGHT NOW” alarms.
- Put clocks everywhere: Big, obnoxious ones that you can’t ignore. Bonus points if they’re ugly and loud enough to haunt your dreams.
2. Time Yourself — and Be Horrified (and Then Adjust)
How long does it actually take you to get ready, tidy your wardrobe, or make lunch?
I guarantee your guess is wrong.
Time yourself. See the real numbers. Adjust accordingly.
Example:
You think you need 20 minutes to get ready? Nope, sweet summer child. You need 47 minutes, a pep talk, and two outfit changes.
3. Start the “Getting Ready” Process Way Earlier Than Feels Normal
If you feel like you still have plenty of time, assume you’re already late.
(Yes, it’s annoying. No, it’s not fair. Welcome to ADHD.)
Instead of leaving at 5:00, plan to be out the door at 4:30.
You can kill time once you arrive early (imagine!), but you can’t reverse being late.
Pro Tip:
Pack your bag, pick out your clothes, and find your keys the night before.
Because nothing triggers chaos faster than hunting for your wallet while half-dressed and sweaty.
4. Break It Down
Your brain hates big vague instructions like “get ready.”
You need tiny, specific tasks, like:
- Put on clothes.
- Brush teeth.
- Find car keys.
- Leave house.
Write it down. Check it off. Pretend you’re a contestant on a weird reality show called “Beat the Clock Before It Beats You.”
5. Accept That You’ll Still Mess Up Sometimes — and Plan for It
Even with all the hacks, there will still be days you’re late.
Life happens. ADHD happens.
So build in a buffer.
If something must start at 3 p.m., aim to arrive at 2:45.
You’ll be amazed how much less stressful life feels when you’re not always sprinting and apologizing.
And if you are late? Take a breath. Say sorry. Move on.
You’re not a bad person. You’re a human with an ADHD brain doing their best.
Final Thoughts
Time blindness is real, love.
It’s frustrating. It’s confusing. It’s often hilarious in a tragic kind of way.
But with the right strategies — alarms, real-time tracking, starting obnoxiously early — you can outsmart your own brain.
Will you suddenly transform into a Swiss train conductor? Probably not.
Will you spend less of your life frantically yelling “I’m on my way!” while pulling on socks mid-sprint? Absolutely.
Small wins, my friend. Small wins.
💬 Spill the tea, love!
What’s the most ridiculous way time has betrayed you lately?
Was it a “just five more minutes” nap that turned into a full REM cycle?
A quick Target run that ate your entire afternoon?
Drop your best time blindness disaster in the comments — no judgment here. We’re all running fashionably (and accidentally) late together. 😎⏰
Talk soon, my friend.
Cordially,
Lynne
