Managing Your Time

Published: Wed, 12/21/22

Neil Swanson, PCC, CACP, MDiv - ADHD and Relationship Coach - December 21, 2022

Hi, !

Time management is a big challenge for most of us with ADHD – no matter what our age! “Time blindness” is often the way it is described, and that is a good description. It seems that we have no accurate internal awareness of the passage of time. This can cause a LOT of problems, since our world runs on clock time.

One help is to make time more visible by using external devices such as analogue clocks and Time Timers to keep the passage of time within our eyesight. A Time Timer could be a wonderful gift for someone on your list. It has unlimited applications!

Another helpful support is the Pomodoro Technique, which has proven very useful to many of my coaching clients. In its classic form, it divides time into 25-minute segments, each followed by a 5-10-minute break, with the result being much greater focus and productivity. Many folks with ADHD find Pomdoro works very well for them, sometimes with some alterations in the length of time they choose to focus, such 15 minutes instead of 25.

There is a website that I have just become aware of that does a terrific job of explaining the Pomodoro technique, its origin, why and how it works, and how to make it work for you. The site, called "Before Sunset," offers a free “subscription” and very helpful information.

Before Sunset is only one of many places online where you can find information about the Pomodo Technique. There are also numerous apps for your mobile devices. A Google search brought up several sites that compare those apps, such as this one.

You might want to give Pomodoro a try if time management is a challenge for you. Perhaps it will offer some ideas you would like to incorporate in your plans for the new year. Enjoy!