When you have ADHD, you live and die by scheduling. If you schedule something, you get it done and get it off the table. If you don’t, it never gets done. Remember, for those with ADHD, soon isn’t an actuality. But, when you schedule something yet you’re at the mercy of the unknown, it gets tough.
Take, for example, getting a visa to another country. Sure, you can plan to take a few hours and get it done, but what if it takes longer? What if your entire day gets pushed back, and the next thing you know, you’re twelve hours behind the eight ball? Not a fun place to be. I know, I’ve been there.
But there’s almost always a solution! This morning, I had to go to the Chinese embassy to get a visa. My ADHD had already pushed the attempt back once, thanks to my forgetting to bring my actual passport. When I went back to the embassy with it, there was (and I’m not making this up,) a four hour wait. That would have thrown one hell of a cramp into my day. So, knowing I’d have to go again, I relied on my one secret weapon that gets me through when things get out of control:
I got up earlier. I’ve talked countless times about why getting up early is the best thing you can do for yourself, and this time was no exception. The embassy opens at 9am, they let people in at 8:30am. I got there at 7am. (I’d already hit the gym at 5am.)
Sure enough, doors opened at 8:30, I was first through security, first to the information desk, first to submit my documents and passport, and first to get out the door. Total time in the embassy, from the moment the windows opened at 9am? Three minutes. In my office by 9:30, all is well, and I’m back to my schedule.
In the end, ADHD tends to impact our time the most. (Tweet this!) When we forget to do something, when we’re running late, when we’re sucked down a rabbit hole of choices, our time is affected more than anything else. Getting up early allows for a buffer to prevent that. If nothing else, try getting up an hour earlier, even if just to sit and drink a cup of coffee in peace, without fear of being late.
Oh, and bring your passport the next time you have to get a visa.
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Love this. I’m chronically getting pelted with ideas for what to do, or telling myself I need to do ALL the things to have a great day! I recently started using a planner to break my week down a little better. It gets stressful when I avoid something on the list and I have to fight myself to keep from getting totally derailed by things like that. Internal monologue of “Welp, it’s all ruined now, way to go, let’s just binge Netflix and try again tomorrow.”
I’m currently trying to finish up my first Associate’s Degree, learn how to be a functional adult, and hopefully start a business. In addition to managing schedules, food, and home stuff, I have way too many sessions of sitting at the table and staring out the window at my bird feeders until I realize it’s noon and I haven’t eaten much or done anything.
Getting up earlier would be a great way to get my day rolling and give me time to work on my jogging and eat breakfast before 11. Schedule the thing, do the thing, avoid feeling sorry for self, and avoid watching shows you don’t really care about just to avoid chores.
Love the podcast too! You rock!
I once read a book by Steven Scott, Mentored by a Millionaire. That changed my life. The book, like your post, emphasizes the value of time, and breaking goals down into bite-sized chunks in a very organized way. After reading it, I found a random video where he was giving a presentation and lost his train of thought for a moment and said it was his ADHD. I should have known 🙂
Yes, but how do you get to bed early enough to wake up early? My brain won’t cooperate with that plan….