Time blindness: Symptoms, causes, and treatment options

Reviewed by Susan Radzilowski, MSW, LMSW, ACSW

Written by

therapist.com team

Last updated: 09/03/2024

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What is time blindness?

Time blindness, also called time agnosia, is a cognitive phenomenon that causes you to struggle with accurately perceiving time. Basically, your “internal clock” has trouble estimating time intervals. This can lead to a number of time management difficulties.

While time blindness is a real phenomenon, it isn’t a diagnosable medical or mental health condition.

Is time blindness a disability?

Time blindness is not recognized as a disability. However, it can stem from an underlying condition that is considered a disability.

For instance, neurodevelopmental conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two conditions that can affect time perception.¹ In some cases, ASD and ADHD can be considered disabilities if they meet certain criteria.²

Time blindness symptoms

Having trouble perceiving and managing time can manifest in various ways, which may include:³

• Making quick, unplanned decisions
• Over- or underestimating how long tasks will take
• Not remembering how much time you spent on activities you’ve done before
• Focusing intently on what you’re doing and not realizing hours have passed
• Finding it hard to remember when things happened in the past
• Thinking mostly about the present instead of planning for the future
• Struggling to make and stick to a daily schedule
• Having trouble prioritizing tasks
• Putting off important things until the last minute
• Regularly being late to work, school, appointments, and scheduled events

Causes of time blindness

Time blindness can be caused by both physical and psychological factors.

Physical factors

Physical factors that can contribute to time blindness include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) ⁴
• Neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease^5,6
• Levels of certain hormones⁷
• Substance abuse⁸

Psychological factors

Several psychological conditions may affect the way people perceive time:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)⁹
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)¹⁰
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)¹¹
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)¹²
• Depression¹³
• Anxiety¹⁴
• Bipolar disorder¹⁵
• Schizophrenia¹⁶
• Certain forms of dementia¹⁷

It’s important to note that if a person has one of the above physical or psychological conditions, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will experience time blindness. And people without these conditions may still struggle with time perception. The severity and impact of time blindness can vary greatly from person to person.

Can you have time blindness without ADHD?

ADHD and time blindness are closely linked, but it’s possible to experience time blindness without having ADHD or another underlying condition.¹⁸ Stress, for instance, can distort time for some people.¹⁹ Sleep deprivation can also significantly affect time perception.²⁰

Additionally, certain personality traits may contribute to time blindness without necessarily indicating a clinical condition.²¹ For example, people who are highly creative or prone to daydreaming might experience difficulties with time perception. Cultural factors can also play a role, as different societies have varying concepts of time and punctuality.²²

The impact of time blindness

Trouble perceiving time affects executive functioning, the mental capacity that allows you to manage time and accomplish tasks. It can lead to numerous challenges, including:

Not enough time: People with time blindness often feel that time is passing by without them being able to complete tasks accurately and well.²³ This can lead to:

• Feelings of frustration and inadequacy
• Difficulty in meeting personal and professional goals
• Challenges in maintaining a work-life balance

Procrastination: Lower future time consciousness, a common feature of time blindness, is strongly linked to procrastination.²⁴ In this form of time blindness, a person overestimates how much time they will have in the future to complete a task. This results in hurried task completion and increased stress as deadlines approach.

Career implications: Poor time management, whether it stems from time blindness or not, has been associated with negative consequences including:²⁵

• Poor job performance
• Lower productivity
• Negative impact on career progression
• High levels of stress in the workplace

Personal relationships: Frequent lateness and forgetting important dates can strain relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.

Financial management: Difficulty in perceiving time can lead to challenges in budgeting and paying bills on time.

Self-care: Time blindness may result in missed meals, a poor sleep schedule, or lack of an exercise routine.

Time blindness treatment options

If your time blindness is associated with an underlying condition like ADHD or ASD, treating the core condition may help lessen time perception issues. Beyond this, there are several therapies that have been shown to help with managing time blindness specifically:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be focused on time management, and has been shown to effectively improves outcomes for both children and adults with ADHD.²⁶
• Occupational therapy interventions may significantly improve time management, organization and planning skills, emotional regulation, life satisfaction, and executive function.²⁷
• Mindfulness-based programs can enhance time management skills and overall well-being in students.²⁸

Visit our directory to find a qualified mental health professional in your area who specializes in time management and executive functioning issues.

Tips for coping with time blindness

In addition to professional help, there are several at-home strategies you can use to manage mild or less-frequent forms of time blindness:

Use visual reminders. Calendars, planners, and to-do lists can help you externalize time-related information. Time-tracking apps and productivity software can also help you monitor how you spend your time and identify areas for improvement.

Set alarms. Use your phone or smart devices to remind you of important tasks and appointments.

Break tasks into smaller steps. This can make large projects feel more manageable and help you track progress.

Create routines. Establish consistent daily routines to help structure your day and reduce decision fatigue. This can include setting times for meals, work, and leisure activities.

Practice time estimation. Regularly guess how long tasks will take, then compare your estimate to the actual time. This can improve your time perception skills over time.

Use time-blocking. Allocate specific time slots for different activities in your day. This helps create a structured schedule and improves time awareness.

Minimize distractions. Create a work environment that limits interruptions, allowing you to focus on tasks and maintain a better sense of time.

Seek out accountability. Partner with a friend or colleague to check in on your progress and help you stay on track with your time management goals.

Practice mindfulness. Regular mindfulness exercises can enhance your ability to focus on the present moment and improve time perception.

Prioritize self-care. Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and a balanced diet can significantly improve cognitive function and time perception.

If the above strategies don’t seem to help, or if time blindness is significantly impacting your daily life, consider speaking with a therapist. They can assess whether there might be underlying conditions affecting your time perception issues and recommend the best treatment. Visit our therapist directory to connect with one in your area.