How to Save Time When You Have ADHD

Do you feel like you never have enough time? Do you start the day with great intentions and a long to do list, but by the end of the day, nothing is crossed off?

If you are constantly busy, but don’t have anything to show for it, you are not alone. Many people with ADHD feel like this. It’s frustrating and demoralizing. However, life doesn’t have to be like this.

The first step to any problem is awareness. For 3 days, write down how you are spending your time. Do it in 30 minute chunks. Start with the time you wake up, through lunch, all the way till bed time. Once it’s written down you have a clear visual of your days. Even though this may seem a lot of effort, don’t skip this step. What we actually do, compared to what we think we do is usually very different.

Next look for time sabotagers. There might be big chunks of time wasting activities, like Facebook or playing solitaire. If this is you, it’s easy to pinpoint time drains.

For everyone else, your time drains are probably more subtle with a few minutes here and there. Perhaps you left your lunch in the fridge at home and went back to get it. You spent longer than you need on each phone call. You have quick chats throughout the day with co-workers. Each one of the activities seems harmless, but added up can lead to hours of wasted time.

Now, that you have identified how your time is spent and you have identified the drains, it’s time to fix them. Tackle on issue at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions to help you with your time drains:

1) If you are constantly forgetting things, create checklists to help you remember what items you need.

2) If you are doing the same time consuming actions every day, see if you can chunk them together. For example, do one weekly food shop, rather than going every day after work.

3) If you are always say ‘yes’ when people ask you to do something, start getting comfortable saying ‘no’. Sounds brutal, however ADDers are helpful people and are quick to say yes to things and then end up overwhelmed.

4) If you are a multi-tasker. Stop! It doesn’t work, it lowers your IQ and makes you feel scattered and unfulfilled. Instead, work for short periods on one task, either to completion or to move it forwards a little and then start working on the next task.

5) If you are a talker, brainstorm ways to keep conversations short.

6) If you don’t see suggestions to your problems on the list leave a comment below and I will be able to help you!!!