As someone with ADHD who works from home, there are days when time feels like a blur. I’ll wake up, dive into a project, get caught up in the momentum, and before I know it, an entire day (or week) has flown by. This is what they call time blindness—the inability to sense the passage of time in a typical way. For many of us with ADHD, it’s a normal part of life. But there’s another side to it that’s a bit more… complicated.
Time blindness doesn’t just affect my productivity or ability to manage my schedule. It affects something deeper: the way I connect with the people I love, especially those who aren’t nearby.
When Time Flies, So Do the People
I’ve realized that I don’t really “miss” people the way others might. My parents, my friends, relatives—sometimes, it feels like I’ve seen them just yesterday, even though it’s been weeks or months. It’s not because I don’t care about them. I love them, deeply. But the passage of time is so skewed in my mind that whether it’s been one day or one year, it all feels the same.
Unfortunately, when you work from home, your world can become even smaller. Most of my day is spent between the same four walls, focused on tasks that keep me present in the moment. People who aren’t physically here often slip from my mind. It’s not intentional, it’s not neglect. It’s just… the way my brain works.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
One of the strangest parts about this experience is the paradox: while I don’t actively miss people, I can also completely forget their existence. This sounds extreme, but when my head is wrapped around work or caught up in my everyday routine, my mind doesn’t leave much room for thoughts of the people who aren’t directly in front of me. It’s not that I don’t value those relationships—I just get so caught up that I don’t realize how long it’s been since I last reached out.
It’s almost like my brain needs a trigger. A song, a memory, a message that suddenly reminds me—oh yeah, I should call them. And then, in that moment, it all comes rushing back. I feel a sudden wave of affection, a pull to reconnect. But in between those moments? It’s like they exist in a different time zone, one I don’t visit very often.
Staying Connected When Time Slips Away
For a long time, I felt guilty about this. How could I forget to call my parents? How could I not reach out to my friends more often? But I’ve learned that it’s not about a lack of love, or even some hidden trauma that I’m repressing. It’s simply how ADHD and time blindness work together. The passage of time doesn’t register the same way for me. Days blur into weeks, and before I know it, months have passed.
But I’ve found a few things that help me stay connected:
- Set intentional reminders: I set calendar notifications on my phone and my laptop to remind myself to call or text the people I love. It’s not the most romantic gesture, but it helps me keep track of time.
- Anchor with rituals: I’ve started building little rituals into my day, like having a specific time every week to check in with my family or scheduling virtual hangouts with friends. These rituals serve as emotional checkpoints, helping me stay grounded in my relationships.
- Physical reminders: Photos, small gifts, or letters from loved ones placed around my workspace can help trigger memories. When I see a picture of a friend or a note from my mom, it snaps me out of my tunnel vision and reminds me to reach out.
Embracing Time Blindness, Without the Guilt
At the end of the day, time blindness is just one of those things that comes with ADHD. It’s not always easy, especially when it affects the people I care about. But instead of dwelling on the guilt, I’ve learned to accept it and find small ways to work around it. My love for my family and friends doesn’t change just because I forget to call them—it’s always there, even if the way I experience time doesn’t reflect that.
So, if you’re like me—someone with ADHD, working from home, and struggling to keep track of time—know that you’re not alone. Time blindness may make it harder to remember the people we care about, but it doesn’t mean we care any less. We just have to find our own ways to stay connected, even when time feels like it’s slipping away.
Have you experienced time blindness in your relationships? How do you stay connected with loved ones, even when time gets blurry? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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