Making Time Work For You: A Simple Time Management Strategy for ADHD (and everyone else)
When I was in photo school, I felt overwhelmed and didn’t think I could handle the workload. I met with the dean of students, Marty Hassell, hands wringing and full of worry. She calmly looked at me and said,
“Have you ever thought about writing out a schedule for yourself?”
I was 26 years old and had never thought to do that. It blew my mind. So I wrote out all my class and work responsibilities—including sleep, travel time, and meals. That level of granularity removed a lot of anxiety because I knew where I was going to be at any given time.
All the Tools, None of the Time
Today, I still search for time and project management programs to help me stay on top of tasks. I’ve tried Monday.com, Asana, Slack, Trello, and Structured. All are perfectly fine, but none really helped me get organized. Why? Because I spent more time trying to figure out how to use them than actually doing the things I needed to do.
The learning curve felt exciting—like starting a new relationship. Plugging everything in, creating color-coded boxes with due dates... I felt busy and productive. But in reality, I was just moving dirt around a hole instead of digging.
A Shift in Mindset: Use What You Already Have
Last week, I watched a video on the YouTube channel How to ADHD. The creator talked about the power of planning your week. It was a sponsored segment (I’m sure the product works just fine), but what really stuck with me was the idea itself:
Plan your week.
That got me thinking—maybe it’s time to start the hunt again for a system that actually works. But this time, I wanted something that would sync with Apple products.
Then dawn broke on Marblehead:
Why not use the tools already built into my phone and computer?
Apple’s ecosystem is designed for this stuff. Instead of learning a brand-new system, I decided to spend a little time figuring out how to make the ones I already had work for me. That decision was a game changer.
The Power of Filling in the Blanks
Yes, my ADHD brain likes to complicate things. I get anxious when I see a mostly empty calendar—because I know full well there are lots of things I need to do. But filling it out gives me a sense of control. I’ve always known this... but knowing something and doing it are two different things.
So I entered a task in my Reminders app:
“Schedule time to write about time management.”
And the fact that you’re reading this? That means it worked.
This Isn’t Just an ADHD Thing
People with ADHD aren’t the only ones who struggle with managing their time. The world is overwhelming. It’s easy to feel paralyzed.
But when I organize my time and get clear on what I’m doing and when, I feel calmer. It takes practice—and a lot of honesty—because I spend a ton of time “getting ready to get ready,” as my dad says. You might know it by another name: procrastination.
Build Systems for the Days You Can’t Think
I saw another video that really resonated with me. It said:
Build systems that help you when you're not at your best.
I don’t need help when I’m well-rested, fed, and properly medicated. I need support when my brain feels like mush. That’s when I need technology to prop me up. Planning ahead for those moments is like keeping a life preserver on deck. You don’t need it when the boat’s sailing smoothly—you need it when it sinks.
Time Is an Inventory of My Values
Time is the most precious thing we have. Managing it shows me where my energy and values go. When I’m in a spiral of negative self-talk, I feel like I’ve wasted the day. But when I look at how I actually spent my time, I realize I did get things done—it just doesn’t feel that way.
Without structure, it’s like a record skipping. Time slips away, and I think I’m just lucky if anything gets done. But the truth is, time management is simple. If you’re like me—always looking for the perfect tool or shiny new system—try this:
Use the apps already on your device.
Whether you’re on Apple, Google, or Microsoft, keep it simple. Remember, people used to plan their whole lives with nothing more than a notebook and a pen.
Time Management = Accountability = Self-Worth
Managing my time helps me take responsibility for my behavior. And accountability? That’s about relationships—with others, and with myself.
Being accountable to myself is hard because, sometimes, I don’t feel like I’m worth the effort. But planning my week forces me to look at where I spend my energy—and sometimes it doesn’t line up with my values. I self-medicate with food, TV, and distraction to soothe the anxiety that comes from feeling like I’m not in control.
But recognizing that? That’s the first step.
If you relate, I hope this post gives you something to hold on to.
