No Sense of Time
Does anyone else have a problem with no sense of time passing? This is a problem for me even when I am not hyperfocussing.
This causes a real problem for me at work. Appointments are scheduled for 10 or 20 min, but I have no idea as to when that is coming to an end. I have moved the clocks in my exam rooms so that I can see them by just glancing up, so as not to look rude or like I am in a hurry by looking at my watch. My staff is going to start paging me near the end of a 20 min appointment, and I will leave my pager on vibrate so that it won't be too intrusive or obvious. It is hard to use an actual timer when I am with patients.
Does anyone have any other suggestions? One of my goals for this year is to do my best to stay on schedule and not run late. However, when I have no sense of time, it is very difficult. For all my other everyday things, I use a timer. This is just the one situation where I feel awkward about using one. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
This causes a real problem for me at work. Appointments are scheduled for 10 or 20 min, but I have no idea as to when that is coming to an end. I have moved the clocks in my exam rooms so that I can see them by just glancing up, so as not to look rude or like I am in a hurry by looking at my watch. My staff is going to start paging me near the end of a 20 min appointment, and I will leave my pager on vibrate so that it won't be too intrusive or obvious. It is hard to use an actual timer when I am with patients.
Does anyone have any other suggestions? One of my goals for this year is to do my best to stay on schedule and not run late. However, when I have no sense of time, it is very difficult. For all my other everyday things, I use a timer. This is just the one situation where I feel awkward about using one. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sherra Scott on
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Does your cell phone have a timer or alarm? It probably does. You could set that right before you walk into the exam room. There should be a vibrate setting for that also. I've set timers/alarms for myself so I don't forget to stop for something or make a phone call, etc. Even if you don't have a vibrate setting for alarms on your phone, just set the alarm tone to something that's not like a "cell phone ring" and say something like "Excuse me. That's a reminder I set up for myself so I wouldn't forget something." Maybe it's just me, but I almost expect my doctor to get a call or page when I'm in with them. As long as it's a very brief interruption I don't get offended at all - I figure it goes along with the job. I would especially expect it with a pediatrician.
I think sometimes we think other people will be much more upset about things than they really would be. But I "get it". Besides, think about it...would your patients be more irritated with a brief 5 second interruption to keep you on track, or you getting so behind because you loose track of time they're stuck sitting in a doctor's office much longer than necessary?
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Permalink Reply by Jess H on -
I can't remember where I read it, but one author described the ADDers sense of time as "elastic" and I thought that was a perfect way to say it. I, too, struggle with it constantly.
Using a kitchen timer has been the most helpful thing I've tried. Not only does it remind me what I should be doing, but with continued use, gives me a somewhat better sense of how long 5 or 10 (or whatever #) minutes really is. (OK, let me not get too carried away...there's some improvement for me, but it is still seriously limited). Although it isn't practical for use at work, using it at home could help bring awareness of passing time.
I found a product online called the Watchminder and would love to give it a try. Hypothetically, it sounds like an incredibly helpful tool (although I haven't actually spoken with anyone who has tried it and tend to be skeptical about these things..and it's quite expensive).
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Permalink Reply by Gail on
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I'm so glad that I stumbled on to this topic! I have the same issue with losing track of time. I was substitute teaching and was really worried that I would forget to end recess on time (the kids only get 20 mins) so I used my cell phone alarm. As it turns out, I remembered to bring the kids back to class on time but forgot that I set an alarm. The alarm went off shortly after we returned to the classroom, and I literally walked around the class trying to figure out where the beeping was coming from. I'm not kidding. I spent a couple of minutes trying to listen to where it was coming from before I figured out that the alarm was in my pocket on my cell phone. I am so glad that the kids didn't know that it was coming from me and forgot all about it. This was a PMS day for me so my forgetfulness was even worse than general. Whether anyone knew what happened or not, I still felt so humiliated. If it wasn't for this site, I'd feel completely crazy!
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Permalink Reply by Anthony's Mommy! on -
I have no sense of time 5 mins can seem like 1 hour and vice versa... I guess it's depending on what you do... Like someone one said:
Put your hand over a fire for 1 min and it will seem like 1 hour, sit next to the person of your dreams for 1 hour and it will seem like 1 min... It's all relative.
In regards to keeping track of time I use television... Funny but true well back than I would know exactly what time it was by what shows were playing...
Kike Sherra said using a cell phone that rings when 10 mins is up is also a good way to tell. It's not rude to be paged after 20 mins if that the required time alloted.
Coffee maker works too... make it so that the coffee starts working at a certain time... if you like coffee.
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Permalink Reply by Leanne on
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Oh my goodness. I was just talking about this on another forum, the Blood Type Diet forum. There's a group of us who struggle with ADD and we've talked about this very issue.
Let me give you a couple of examples that haunt me to this day.
I was in 8th grade. I found myself at my locker with half my books in my lap and half of them stacked nicely in my locker. I "woke up" (as is common with me) and suddenly didn't know what day it was (which also isn't unusual for me). I looked around and the hallway was emptying. I knew I was going to be really late for class, but I had no idea what class was next. What day was it? Where was I supposed to be? I couldn't ask anybody because it would be terribly embarrassing, of course. There was no excuse for this--the school year was nearly over and I'd been in this routine for months and months. By the time I finally figured it out, and got to class, I was 15 minutes late and had no excuse.
Fastforward to my senior year of highschool. It was after school and the hallway was empty. I walked up to my locker and worked the combination. It didn't work. I stood there a minute and told myself firmly, "You have been working this combination for the entire school year. Multiple times a day. Do it." I did it again and it still didn't work. Suddenly I realized where I was standing. I was standing at the locker I'd had when I was a freshman....working the combination I had as a freshman. I walked like a drunk person (I often feel slightly tipsy for no reason) down the hall, trying to remember where my locker was. I finally figured it out, and stood there trying to remember the combination of that locker.
Because I have no concept of time, it was like I was 4 years previous, standing at the wrong locker working the wrong combination. I hate it when that happens. It's like I'm so disconnected from reality I don't know what time I'm in.
I remember things from childhood that my siblings say I made up. Daddy defends me because sometimes he remembers it too. But they've convinced themselves I'm insane and sometimes I wonder myself.
No, really, I'm not insane, I just have ADD. Or maybe Asperger's. It's all the same thing, just a matter of degree.
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Permalink Reply by Lovemypirates1121 on -
I am notorious about this sort of thing. In fact growing up my mom used to joke "You were born 3 weeks after your due date and you've been late for things ever since!!"
As a teen when I'd go to the mall before I had a car, my mom or a friend's mom would drop us off at one of the entrances and say "I'll meet you back here in 2 hours..." Thankfully my friends were usually better at keeping track of time than I was.
I've gotten better now. I don't wear a watch but I've always got my cell on me and check that for the time. Now the problem is that my husband, even 6 years out of the USMC has still got the "Hurry up & wait" mentality. LOL! If a store opens at 10:00, and we're say 15 minutes away, we MUST leave the house at 9:30 which puts us standing in front of the store waiting for it to open.
I think your idea of having someone page you when time is up sounds like a good one, when you have it on vibrate. Or better, maybe they can page you when you have about 5 minutes left so you can have a chance to wrap things up. That's something I also have a bit of trouble with, is transitioning from one activity to the next. Especially when I'm chatty.
A good friend of mine and I, when we chat in the morning, we have to sign off by 8:30 so she can get ready for work and I can walk the boys to school. Around 8:15 one will send an e-mail to the other saying "Work bell!" which means we have 15 minutes to wrap up our conversations before we have to be on our way.
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