Time blindness!

Do you want to leave work earlier in the evening or get to work earlier in the morning so you don’t have to stay late? I don’t want to sound like every neurotypical person ever but have you actually tried an alarm on your phone at the time you want to leave in the evening? Are you working on a device that you can set up screen time controls on that will lock you out after a certain time? I found a countdown app recently that says the time left aloud every minute, then counts down the seconds when it’s close to the end and I found that really helps me with timekeeping because I just set it and forget about it then all of a sudden my phone goes ‘8 minutes left’

I’m undiagnosed and I’d say fuck work my kid comes first 😂 but then I’ve been fired from my last 3 jobs too.

Do you actually need to do all the extra bits?

You could try timing the last half an hour and making it a game to see how quick you can get the little bits/closing up done by.

I wasn’t a morning person either but being late to everything and my life being a mess I had to be.
I can’t seem to stick to a routine so I just had to start waking up by 5 am everyday to meet up with daily tasks till I got used to it.
And lemme tell you I still feel like I don’t have enough hours in a day.

I have quite a few specific alarms for myself...

Instead of:
“I’ll leave at 5.”

Use:
A recurring alarm labelled Lock Up NOW or jump in shower or 5mins to leave etc.
I actually have loads! Lol.

Plus
A specific closing or wake up playlist (same one every day) that gets me going. And it goes off with my alarm as the song of the alarm.



I also have a Fake Deadline. 20 Minutes Before Real Leaving Time.

If you need to leave at 5pm, your brain needs to think:
4:30 = start closing routine
4:40 = last admin
4:50 = physically stand up

I need a buffer time because transitions are the hardest bit.


Im not a morning person either but try and move ONE evening task a little earlier if you can. Even just a 5min task. Something short as it will help for everything not to pile up at the end of the day.


I also lived reading the book EAT THAT FROG. Choose the job you out off all day long an dust do it first! Then everything else is easier.

I also use a visual timers. From shein or temu or amazon. When you see time shrinking it feels more real.
I use this for my daughter all the time too!


Maybe also have a photo of your daughter up somewhere. Like a little visual reminder that she matters and you're going home to see her.
Not to feel guilty about. Just prioritising her.


Lastly I loved the audio book from Mel Robbins. 5 second rule. You have 5mins to change your mind or you're stuck. So if the alarm goes. Don't just lie there and think 1 more min. Count 54321 and stand up.

Def listen to it to understand more. It's fab! I use that tricky often especially with my adhd.

Good luck!