You look at the clock. It is 5:00 PM. You need to leave at 5:30 PM.
You think, “I have plenty of time. I will just wash these dishes quickly.”
You wash the dishes. You put on your shoes. Suddenly, you look at the clock again. It is 5:45 PM.
You are late. Again. You ask yourself, “Where did the time go?” This is Time Blindness.
It Is Not Disrespect, It Is a Sensory Issue
Most people can “feel” five minutes pass. People with time blindness cannot.
Basically, time is slippery for you. When you are focused (hyperfocus), three hours feel like ten minutes. When you are bored, ten minutes feel like three hours.
You aren’t trying to be rude. You genuinely believe you can shower, dress, and drive across town in 15 minutes. Unfortunately, math proves you wrong every time.
3 Hacks to “See” Time Again
Digital clocks are your enemy. They just show numbers. You need to visualize time passing.
1. Use Analog Clocks (The Pie Chart Method)
Digital clocks tell you “now.” Analog clocks show you “how much is left.”
The Fix: Put an analog wall clock in your bathroom and kitchen. Seeing the physical slice of time disappear helps your brain understand urgency.
2. The “Playlist” Timer
Set a timer on your phone? You will ignore it.
Instead, use music. Make a “Getting Ready” playlist. If you know that you need to be in the shower by the end of Taylor Swift and dressed by the end of Drake, you have an auditory cue.
When the song changes, you must change tasks.
3. Account for “Transition Time”
This is the silent killer of punctuality.
You budget 20 minutes for the drive. However, you forget the 5 minutes to find your keys, the 3 minutes to walk to the car, and the 2 minutes to park.
The Rule: Always add a 15-minute “Transition Buffer” to every event. If Google Maps says 20 minutes, assume it takes 35.
Conclusion
You are not a broken person.
You just perceive time differently. So, stop trusting your internal clock. Use external tools, add buffers, and forgive yourself for being human.
Tell me in the comments: Are you the person who is always 5 minutes late, or the person who arrives 30 minutes early out of anxiety?
