Time is the thing that unravels me most.
I’ve always had a complicated relationship with it—
Schedules overwhelm me.
Clocks stress me out.
And the whole idea of managing time often feels impossible.
With ADHD, it’s not just a matter of poor time management.
It’s like time becomes this slippery, chaotic force I can’t quite hold.
When Hyperfocus Hijacks the Clock
Part of it is hyperfocus.
When something catches my attention—painting, writing, learning violin—I need to stay in it.
Pulling away feels painful. Like being yanked out of a dream.
I can sit for hours working on something I love, forgetting to eat, stretch, or move.
But the rest of my life?
The dishes. The errands. The quiet, constant background noise of undone tasks—
It just piles up.
And it’s not because I don’t care.
It’s because there are too many things I care about.
Too Many Passions, Not Enough Time
I’ve had to narrow down my interests just to survive.
Even then, I’m constantly juggling. Right now, for example:
I’m learning violin.
I’m running my art business.
I’m painting.
I’m looking for a part-time job (because, yes, money is a thing).
I’m managing a home.
I’m managing a new blog.
And I have a community garden I barely see anymore.
I've had to start letting things go—not because they don't matter, but because there's just not enough time.
And when I can’t decide what to focus on, I freeze.
Decision overload. Shutdown.
Craving Quiet in a Loud World
Even socializing has become hard.
I love people. I do.
But most days, I crave quiet.
I crave time alone with the things that matter to me:
Color. Sound. Nature.
I need that space for my nervous system to settle.
To feel alive. To feel safe.
And yet... I rarely have time to do “nothing.”
I rarely feel permission to slow down.
There’s a constant pressure—
this invisible monkey on my back,
reminding me of all the things I “should” be doing.
It’s not quiet. It’s relentless.
Classic ADHD: Squirreling Out
Take right now, for example:
I was supposed to be finishing chores—cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming, running to the store.
Instead, I squirreled out and started writing this post (because let’s be honest—it’s way more fun).
Now the kitchen is half-clean,
the vacuum is dramatically leaning against the couch like it gave up,
and I’m definitely not at the store.
This is classic ADHD time management:
a thousand tabs open in my brain, all blinking at once.
The Tools That Actually Help Me
So I’ve started experimenting with tools that might help.
I bought two clear dry-erase boards and stuck them to the fridge—
one for daily home life, one for my art business, Splinter & Bloom.
Behind each board, I slide in a printed to-do checklist.
That way, I don’t have to rewrite the same things every day—I just wipe it clean and reset.
Why the fridge?
Because I have to go there. And when I see the lists, I feel more grounded.
Not because I’ll finish every task.
But because at least I’ll have a place to start.
What Doesn’t Work (For Me)
I’ve tried fancy planners, but honestly?
I just decorate them with stickers and forget about them.
They overwhelm me.
So now, I keep it really simple:
• Reusable checklists.
• Fewer goals.
• Less pressure.
Time Feels Tied to Childhood
Still, time hurts sometimes.
It brings me back to childhood—feeling lost, unsupported, and shut down.
My mom made sure I was fed and clothed, but she didn’t really see me.
She didn’t know how loud the chaos inside my brain could get.
Naming It Changed Everything
Now, as an adult with an ADHD diagnosis, I finally have a name for it.
It explains so much:
Why structure was so hard.
Why I chased novelty like it was oxygen.
Why language felt slippery, even though I loved it.
Why the world moved faster than I could catch up.
I’m learning how to work with my brain, not against it.
And I’m sharing this because I know I’m not the only one.
If This Is You Too—You’re Not Alone
If you feel like you’re always running out of time—
Or drowning in too many passions—
Or never quite catching your breath—
I see you.
We may not have it all figured out,
but we’re learning.
One messy day at a time.
Quick Takeaways for Managing Time with ADHD
1. Keep It Visible
Use clear dry-erase boards or stick reminders in places you can’t ignore (like your fridge). Seeing your priorities helps bring time into focus.
2. Standardize the Repetitive Stuff
Print your daily to-do’s and slide them behind your board. Just check them off, wipe clean, and reset—no need to rewrite everything.
3. Choose Less to Do More
Pick just three main tasks: one big, one small, one for maintenance. Let that be enough. Anything more is a bonus.
💗 Most of All: Be Kind to Yourself
Even with tools and intentions, you’ll still squirrel out sometimes—
vacuum halfway done, blog half-written, errands forgotten.
That doesn’t mean you failed.
It means you’re human.
And you’re learning.
One beautifully chaotic day at a time.
Thanks for reading.
If it resonated, feel free to share or reply.
Still me. Still you. Always becoming.