Time Management for People with ADD/ADHD

Time is often not the first thought on the minds of those with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their life may be a long steam of late appointments, missed schedules, and forgotten deadlines. While this is bad enough in someone’s personal life, it can even be worse for a career. Several issues make this a problem. Sometimes, procrastination causes a problem. Other times, the amount of time needed to complete a project is underestimated or tasks are done out of order. Hyperfocusing can be another problem. The person with ADD may become so intensely interested in one thing that everything else is forgotten.

Because time perception can be different for people with ADD or ADHD, a clock is essential to their proper management of time. Keep a clock or watch within sight at all times. Create a routine. Do things in the same order and at the same time each day whenever possible. Allow extra time for most tasks and leave early for appointments. Written notes and other reminders can also help the person with ADD or ADHD from forgetting completely about appointments.

Projects or tasks that have many steps can be overwhelming for anyone who has ADD or ADHD symptoms. Sometimes they will do things out of order, or they may decide to just not do anything at all. Setting priorities so that they are sure of which thing is the most important is a good idea. It’s also helpful to break more complicated processes down into simple, easy-to-complete steps.

Many people with ADD and ADHD are impulsive and will say yes to too many things. This leads them to feeling overwhelmed, over-worked, and stressed. In this situation, it’s easier for anyone to make mistakes or just decide to ignore it all. The person with ADD should learn how to say no to everyone who wants more than they have to give. By doing so, they can simplify their life and do a better job completing the tasks that are really important instead of trying to please everyone all the time.