Working With Time Blindness

What People Mean by Time Blindness

The phrase usually describes two experiences. One is losing track of time while absorbed in something. The other is struggling to sense how far away a future deadline really is, so next Friday feels the same as next month until suddenly it is tomorrow. Neither is a character flaw. Naming which version shows up for you helps narrow down what kind of support to try first. Some people notice one far more than the other, and the strategies for each can look quite different.

Make Time Visible

Because internal time sense can be unreliable, many people do better when time is something they can see or hear. That might be an analog clock in the room where you work, a timer that shows the minutes draining away, or alarms labeled with the next action instead of a vague reminder. In therapy, the question is not which tool is best in general but which one you will actually notice and use.

Estimate, Then Check

A simple CBT exercise is to guess how long a task will take, write the guess down, and then record the real time. Over a few weeks, patterns tend to appear. Maybe showers take twice as long as you think, or email takes half as long as you fear. This is not about judging yourself. It gives you real data to plan with instead of hopeful estimates. Even a single week of honest notes can change how you plan the following Monday.

Plan Backward From the Moment That Matters

If you need to be somewhere at 9:00, working backward step by step can reveal hidden time: finding keys, parking, walking in. Marie may help you build a short checklist for recurring transitions, such as leaving for class or starting a shift, and then test it during the week. Small adjustments based on what went wrong are part of the process, not a sign it failed. Over time, the checklist can become a habit that needs less conscious effort.

Bring a Real Example

Marie offers a free 15-minute consultation to talk through what is happening and whether her practical, collaborative CBT approach seems like a fit. Sessions are 50 minutes, and individual sessions are $200. Online therapy is available anywhere in Oregon, and you can ask about current Portland office availability if meeting in person matters to you. Bringing one or two concrete examples to the call is usually more useful than a full history.

Questions You May Have