The Requirement of Setting Time Limits
How do you manage your time as ADHD entrepreneurs?
We are juggling projects, responsibilities, new ideas, and learning to set boundaries with our time can be transformative. This isn’t just about productivity; it’s about ensuring we have the balance to thrive and keep things interesting, challenging, novel, and urgent. An urgency under our control.
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The Weekend Breakthrough
It all started one weekend. I had a presentation for a conference coming up and decided to get some work done early in the morning when no one was around. I made a list of four tasks I needed to complete and set my non-negotiable goal to be home by noon – a time limit.
When I got home, my wife asked if I got everything done. Surprisingly, I said, "No, but I got enough done." In the past, I would have stayed until every task was completed, which could mean working all day.
A Shift in Mindset (and Feeling of Responsibility)
Reflecting on this, I realized that setting the non-negotiable time limit was a new approach I'd been subconsciously adopting. Instead of pushing myself to complete everything on my list—often leading to late nights and burnout—I was giving myself permission to stop once I reached the set time limit. It also puts our time blindness in its place because we set the time to the NOW. This is crucial for us ADHD folks. It’s about making progress, not burning out by pushing ourselves to finish every task.
In the past, my mindset (possibly a limiting belief) was always about completing the list, no matter what – I made this an internal responsibility I had to accomplish. But this new approach helped me realize that sometimes, "good enough" is enough. This small shift made a big difference in my productivity and my overall well-being. Most importantly, I am home more often with my family.
The Unaccomplished Task Forgiveness
On that weekend, I had four things on my to-do list. By the end of my work session because of the imposed time limit, I realized that one of those tasks was a monstrous one that contained multiple smaller tasks. Breaking it down, I saw that it took me four hours to complete just part of it.
When working on my list, I focus on prioritizing my tasks – what must be done first, second, then third. If something seemed too big, I simplified the task by working on its most crucial parts. This led me to accomplish two out of the four tasks, and that was perfectly fine – I forgave myself not accomplishing all the tasks and noticed progress. I even made it home, almost on time!
The Power of Time Limits
Here’s what I uncovered: setting a time limit helped me focus because I defined a deadline. At the end of my set time, I reviewed what I had done and what was left. It allowed me to accept that my list might have been overly ambitious and that it was okay not to complete everything.
ADHD often comes with time blindness, making it hard to judge how long tasks will take. We tend to overcommit and underestimate the time needed. By taking this new approach, I found myself more in control and less overwhelmed. Setting the time limit controlled my time blindness because we moved the “end” of work with a measurable end goal – time, rather than determine the “end” with completion of a ridiculous task list.
Breaking Tasks Down
Tasks on our to-do lists are often too big and are, in reality, project lists. It’s essential to break these projects down into smaller, manageable tasks. These tasks MUST be things we can finish in an hour or two. If I had tried to complete my entire presentation in one go, it would have taken the whole day. But by breaking it down into smaller parts, I was able to see progress and not get discouraged.
Permission to Move On
One of the most liberating parts of this new approach is permitting myself to move on, even if everything isn’t done. Recognizing this was a significant mindset change for me. It’s okay to stop when you have made progress. It’s okay to prioritize going home to spend time with family or to get some downtime before a hectic week.
This permission to stop is crucial. It’s a huge shift from the constant drive to achieve and finish everything at any cost. For us ADHD Entrepreneurs, who often hyper-focus on our companies and neglect other aspects of our lives, this change can make a huge difference in your overall quality of life.
Practical Tips for Setting Time Limits
Set Clear Time Limits: Decide when you will start and stop working. Use alarms if needed. Make it non-negotiable.
Break Tasks Down: Break larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks – until they can’t be broken down more.
Prioritize: Identify your top three tasks that are your focus for the day. Anything beyond that is a bonus!
Accept "Good Enough": Recognize that progress is more important than perfection – you know accomplishing the impossible.
5. Involve Others: If you struggle to stop, ask your team or family to help remind you when it’s time to take a break.
Embracing the New Mindset
By setting time limits and breaking tasks down, we can take control of our time blindness and reduce the self-imposed overwhelm that often comes with being an ADHD entrepreneur. Yes, it’s a shift from how we habitually operated, but it’s worth making the change.
I’d love to hear how setting time limits works for you. What strategies have you found helpful in managing your time? Let me know what you think here.
Further Exploration
The ADHD Simplified™ course has launched and it’s working wonders. Clients have shared how it’s changing their lives. Curious to learn more? Visit our website for more details. Remember, ADHD is only a part of you, not all of you.
Overcome time blindness by downloading The Sh!t List™, my free weekly planning tool to help focus your time.
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