Time blindness is a psychological phenomenon. Here’s how to combat it.
Time blindness is a psychological phenomenon. Here’s how to combat it.
By Lindsey Bever
February 11, 2025 — 4.00am
The idea of time blindness, or difficulty perceiving and managing time, has swept social media. While there is no diagnosis for it, some people explain that, despite their best efforts, they frequently lose track of time, underestimate or overestimate how long tasks will take, show up late, and miss deadlines.
One person questioned whether there should be workplace accommodations for it.
Time blindness is a psychological phenomenon that nearly everyone experiences from time to time, says Michael Manos, head of the Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health at the Cleveland Clinic.
“Who doesn’t get completely occupied with a hobby or a conversation they’re having with somebody, or some kind of activity that is so interesting that it occupies attention, and it takes attention away from other things that might be pressing?” he says.
Not all experts agree, but some suggest that it could be an impairment for some people.
Renae Beaumont, an associate professor of psychology in clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, says time blindness and flow, a state of intense focus in an activity that is engaging, enjoyable and temporarily distracts from the passage of time, are different phenomena.
“Flow is typically associated with positive emotions when you’re doing something you enjoy, and you are able to shift to a different task when you need to. Time blindness involves getting stuck, losing track of time and typically having trouble transitioning to a different task,” she says.
There is no clear consensus, but some researchers consider time blindness to be an impairment in temporal perception, or the way the brain experiences time.
Temporal perception differences are associated with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and neurodivergent subtypes such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, Beaumont says.
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Studies suggest that ADHD, particularly among children, is linked to impairments in time perception, the ability to perceive, understand and make time-based decisions. A 2023 meta-analysis that looked at combined results from 4,692 people with ADHD reported significant impairments in temporal perception compared with neurotypicals.
“It’s pretty clear that this is a phenomenon that’s happening in people with ADHD, and this is especially true for the younger kids,” says Lawrence Fung, an associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Neurodiversity Clinic at Stanford University.
It is unclear whether autism is also associated with time perception impairments.
What else you should know
Certain strategies may help people who struggle with time perception and management, experts say.
- Use digital reminders including alarms, timers and calendars to keep track of appointments, dates and deadlines. They can also be useful for managing time during specific tasks. “For those who struggle with daydreaming in the shower and losing track of time, there are even waterproof timers that can help,” Beaumont says. “Setting alarms for specific tasks or a component of a task can help with knowing when to transition from one activity to the next.”
- Consider using apps that can help with focus and block distracting apps and websites while working.
- Place a large calendar in dorm rooms or offices to keep important deadlines in clear sight and top of mind.
- Break down larger tasks into small tasks and set a deadline for each one.
- Seek help from a health-care professional for persistent or unmanageable time perception and time management issues.
The bottom line
While there is no diagnosis for time blindness, and it is not considered a primary symptom of neurodivergence or psychiatric disorders, it is a psychological phenomenon that most people experience from time to time.
Washington Post
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