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And now I'm exhausted.
One of the hardest things for adults with ADHD to control is their tendency to mismanage time. We're not good at estimating how long a task will take, are kings and queens of procrastination and if something interests us, can stay on that task for considerably longer than we should, ignoring everything around us. We're easily attracted to the pretty & shiny, so we are often convinced to change a perfectly smart plan for something new without considering the consequences.
People, ADHD or not, are often resistant to the idea of a schedule and a planner because it can feel like you're sucking the spontaneity out of life and tying yourself down so tightly there will be no room for creativity and joy. And I'll admit to being a bit nervous about that. The thing is, I can't keep on like I am. I lose track of valuable things - friends, opportunities, car keys. I run myself ragged and end up sick and unhealthy. And when new opportunities present themselves, I have a difficult time making smart decisions because I have no way of fully understanding my options.
I haven't figured out a great way to handle this yet, so I'm going to use the month of August for a 31 day focus on time management. Between now & Sunday I'll be setting up a system, using what I know about myself and my habits to create something that works with my brain rather than against it. And then I'll spend 31 days getting good at using it and trying not to tweak things unless absolutely necessary. It's more important to me to stick to the habits for a month than to make sure I have perfect systems.
I'll let you all know what I'm doing, and post updates as I go along. I know ADHD folk certainly don't have a monopoly on mismanaged time, so hopefully what I learn will be helpful to you as well. In the meantime, is there some trick or technique you use to keep yourself on track day to day? What hasn't worked for you?
"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." ~ Carl Sandburg
