ADHD and TimeBliness: Why it hurts your finances (and how to work with it.)

September is a season of shifting routines — new school schedules, changing work demands, and a to-do list that always seems to grow faster than it shrinks. For those of us with ADHD, it’s also peak time blindness season.

Woman, with multiple things wanting her attention. Her not being able to make a decision on what to focus on.

TimeBlindess

Time blindness is when your brain struggles to sense the passage of time or the gap between “now” and “later.” Dr. Russell Barkley, ADHD researcher, explains it as difficulty connecting events, responses, and outcomes, what he calls the ERO. That gap can feel endless, which is why we’re quick to act in the moment, even if the future version of us wishes we’d waited.

Why Time Blindness is a Money Problem

Paying Bills:

• Deadlines feel far away until they’re here, leading to late payments, fees, and credit score damage.

Between Paydays:

• Pacing spending is tricky, which means money runs out early and stress fills the gap.

What You Can Do About It

1. Automate Payments
Set up autopay for fixed bills, such as your phone or subscription services. For variable bills, schedule a calendar reminder 24 hours prior to their due date.

2. Break Down Paychecks
Divide your money into smaller, weekly, or category-specific amounts. Cash envelopes or separate accounts can help.

3. Create Visual Cues
Color-code due dates in your calendar or use a budgeting app with visual reminders.

4. Build Your Waiting Muscle
Delay unplanned purchases by 30 minutes, then gradually increase to 24 hours.

5. Check In Weekly
Spend 10 minutes reviewing your accounts, upcoming bills, and planned expenses.

Final Thoughts
Time blindness isn’t something you “fix”, but you can work with it. By adding systems that fit the way your brain actually functions, you can avoid late fees, smooth out spending, and reduce the financial stress that time blindness creates.

Remember: small, consistent steps compound into big changes.

You’ve got this, one step, one dollar, and one day at a time.

From chaos to control.