For such a long time, I was encouraged to create goals and hit them within a specific timeframe. However, for anyone who’s neurodiverse, if you don’t meet over-ambitious goals (and it’s often inevitable that you won’t!) it can be crushing and you’re essentially just setting yourself up for disappointment. So instead, I create a vision. You don’t necessarily need to timeframe it, you just need to make sure it’s clear. I like to create mine in a sketchpad. All of my visions and ideas go in one of my many pads, and it allows me to manage and monitor them way better in the long term.
The key part of good time management is communicating how YOU do it. I hear people say things like, “Oh, it’s so much easier if it’s down on an email or an online calendar,” but that does not work for me. I struggle with 10,340 emails in an inbox – I have to see something printed out to understand it. I know it’s old fashioned, but my mind is not programmed to work any other way. There is no shame in saying tech doesn’t work for you. For someone who’s neurodiverse, a diary (let alone an online calendar!) can cause real chaos. I advise being honest with yourself about what works for you, and adapt your schedules accordingly.
In our industry, we are encouraged to show up to the opening of an envelope and say yes to everything. You know what it’s like – if you’re not there, it will be seen as a negative. We need to realise that saying no is OKAY! It’s also okay if you can only manage about 15 minutes before your overwhelm kicks in and you have to leave early. Be realistic about your capacity for saying ‘yes’. Running around like a headless chicken is counterproductive; you don’t get the best out of yourself and others don’t get the best of you either.
The definition of time blindness is the inability to sense how much time has passed and estimate the time needed to get something done.
It’s a condition that’s very common with neurodiverse minds. Knowledge is power, so if you can identify that this may be an issue for you, you can begin to understand how to manage it. For me, I can’t wear a watch because looking at the time causes me a lot of stress (very rarely will you see clocks around me either). Learn to equip yourself with the tools that can help with your version of time blindness – it is a game changer once you know how to handle it.
I may be time blind, but I am punctual – in fact, I’m always early! A lot of people, however, find serial earliness just as stressful as lateness, so it’s important to be respectful of other people’s thoughts on it and try to avoid causing others stress. If I know I need to be somewhere, I’ll still turn up early, but I’ll sit and have a coffee or get some fresh air and give myself some ‘me’ time. I try not to make a big thing about it or let it impact the other person I’m meeting. I’m a bit too long in the tooth to change it now, but I want you to know that this is a natural thing. Just make sure you are acknowledging your patterns to avoid causing yourself – or anyone else – any stress.
Your time is the most valuable thing you have. I am so guilty of prioritising work over family and friends, even though I know it’s wrong. People are encouraged to work every hour, but it’s easy to forget that time is more precious than anything in the world. If you have a creative project, or a brand ambassadorial role or whatever it is on top of your day job, make sure you give yourself the time you need for those things without forgetting your own downtime too.
Recalibration is really important because it allows you to reflect on how you’re feeling. I’m way better if I give myself a week off every now and again, or give myself a morning off and avoid working late into the evening. If I over commit, what I’m doing is really letting myself down when it comes to recharging my battery. And without those things, I am likely to fall down. You have to carve out time to recalibrate and really protect it – even if that’s just with a good, long walk. If your mind is working in a different way, you will tend to prioritise immediacy over longevity, but if you are continuously over-extending and not allowing yourself to pause, you are heading for burnout.
Each issue, I will be sharing my own personal happiness hacks and mood-boosting mindful tricks that help me. Click here for the perfect pick-me-up playlist. I hope you like it!
Join the conversation with Adam on social media at Adam Reed Mind Your Business: #ARMYB
If you are struggling with your mental health, please start a conversation with someone you trust or seek professional advice. Knowing that there are places to talk is key. MIND is an incredible place for help and support. They have some incredible resources on their website: https://www.mind.org.uk/, plus an info line and a number you can call for emergency advice.
