Time management is often framed as a simple life skill, but did you know it’s a complex, brain-based skill? That’s right! Many times, it’s assumed that if we’re running late, we must be disrespectful, uncaring, or lazy! In fact, our brains manage how we perceive, plan, and operate within time, and like any brain-based function, it can vary across individuals in its ease of implementation. If time management is complex for you, it can improve, but it will likely never be perfect because your performance isn’t a matter of your desire or willpower; it is due to your brain! Even if we do improve in this area, mistakes are inevitable, and we can also practice advocating for ourselves and re-grouping after a slip.
What Is Time Management?
Time management is the ability to:
- Understand how much time you have
- Decide where and how to spend it
- Operate within time limits to meet deadlines (Mutti-Driscoll, 2024).
Sounds simple, but in reality, it can feel very complicated, especially if you’re managing ADHD or other executive function challenges.
Take a moment to reflect:
👉 Is time management a strength, a challenge, or somewhere in between for you?
👉 Does it change depending on the situation, like home versus work?
👉 Even if it’s sometimes a strength, is there anything you’d like to shift in how you relate to time?
Why Is Time Management Such a Challenge?
Challenges with time management don’t just manifest as running late or missing deadlines (though they definitely can). Other ways that time management challenges show up for people include overcommitting, struggling to structure their free time, and never having time for themselves.
Here are some tips for working on time management (whether it is a strength, a challenge, or somewhere in between!)
1. Foster Self-compassion
Treating yourself kindly instead of beating yourself up makes you more likely to re-engage after a slip. Celebrate your effort, not just your outcomes. Be your advocate with others who might not understand that time management is a brain-based skill.
2. Plan for Transition Time
ADHD brains often underestimate how long it takes to switch between tasks, so consider leaving yourself extra time in between appointments or commitments.
3. Commit to Less
Commit to your life’s most important tasks, projects, or commitments. If your brain can take a break from using its time management and other skills from time to time, it will thank you!
4. Use Short-Term Deadlines
Long, vague deadlines are procrastination danger zones, so try setting short-term deadlines of what you’ll try to accomplish by a specific time or a general time frame, like “before dinner,” for example. If self-made deadlines don’t work, consider finding an accountability group or asking a friend to check in to build extra motivation.
5. Challenge Yourself
If you’re motivated by a challenge, as many of us are, consider using time as a motivator by trying to complete a task in X amount of time. For example, “How much can I write in 5 minutes?” or “Can I clean my room in 20 minutes?” If you want to work on your time awareness skills through tracking, you could start clocking how long regular tasks take you, challenging yourself to become increasingly accurate at estimating!
If you struggle with time management, you are not alone! There are a lot of quick strategies you can try, and don’t forget to have compassion for yourself. Kudos to you for reading this article and learning more about this critical skill. For all your hard work, I encourage you to reward yourself by putting some “me time” on your calendar. What will you make time for this week?
