How Time Perception Challenges Impact ADHD Entrepreneurs and Their Money (And What They Can Do About It)

Time blindness creates many challenges if you’re an entrepreneur with ADHD and this can be especially true for all things money in your business, but also on the personal side. Chances are, you’ve had moments where time just disappears on you. One minute you’re deep in a project or, hell, binge-watching something fun, and suddenly it’s hours later and you are starving and likely dehydrated. You blink, and deadlines, bills, or client payments are staring you in the face, and you have no idea how you got there.

I’ve been there, especially when I’m in that infamous hyperfocus zone. It’s a gift and a curse: while I’m crushing work or enjoying something, time flies faster than I can keep up with. Without the right systems in place, I’d miss meetings, forget to pay my credit cards on time, or totally blank on those irregular but important bills like property taxes and quarterly income tax installments. Trust me, the stress that follows is not worth it. That makes finding the systems that can support you invaluable!

Time blindness isn’t just some weird ADHD quirk. It’s a real challenge for folks with ADHD, but can create even more challenges for entrepreneurs. It can make us fall into a financial trap and leave us juggling personal and business financial tasks at the last minute or late. Let’s break down what time blindness is, how it screws with your money management, and some practical, ADHD-friendly ways to kick its ass.

What the Hell Is Time Blindness?

Simply put, time blindness is a struggle to accurately perceive or manage time. For people with ADHD, this often means we can’t reliably sense how much time has passed or how long a task will take. It’s like our internal clocks are busted.

This disconnect makes planning, prioritizing, and following through on time-sensitive stuff hard AF! And when your business and personal finances depend on hitting deadlines and sticking to budgets (like they all do), time blindness quickly becomes a costly problem.

How Time Blindness Wrecks Your Financial Flow

Missed Deadlines: Taxes, invoices, and bills all have deadlines that don’t care if your brain’s on a different schedule. Miss these and you face late fees, interest, or worse, awkward conversations with clients or the government about missed tax payments!

Cash Flow Chaos: Delayed invoicing, forgetting to track payments or hours worked, means money isn’t coming in when it should. That tends to snowball and create future problems in your business and the personal finance side of things.

Prioritizing Financial Goals? Ha! With time slipping through the cracks, it’s easy to lose sight of what money moves are urgent vs. what can wait. That “important but not urgent” stuff? It’s usually the first to get shoved aside. How can I possibly think about saving for a vacation when I’m behind on my phone bill and credit card payments??!!

How to Fight Back Against Time Blindness (Without Losing Your Mind)

Here’s the truth: no one system works for every ADHD brain. But here are some of my favourite practical strategies that I use (and coach clients on) to tame the time beast.

1. Embrace Tools and Tech (Your New Best Friends)

You’re not failing because your brain doesn’t “get” time like everyone else. Use calendars, alarms, and reminder apps religiously. I rely heavily on Google Calendar, phone reminders and my Apple watch with multiple reminders for everything, including bills, meetings, and deadlines. The extra buzz is annoying, but it saves me from missing stuff. And linking only my essential reminders to my watch means that I (for the most part) pay attention to them! Having my watch linked to my phone to send me the essential alerts also mean less distraction from my phone because I don’t rely on it for alerts.

Automation is another lifesaver. Automate bill payments where you can, set recurring invoices, and use bookkeeping tools that sync with your accounts to reduce manual tracking.

2. Create Support Systems That Get You

Like me! Hey, I’m Sherry, a money coach for ADHD entrepreneurs. I help my clients find what works for them and handle some hard tasks they often avoid. Having this level of support is a game-changer for my clients. A coach can help you build strategies tailored to your unique brain. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter budgets or most financial '‘rules’ you find online. Plus, having someone in your corner who gets the ADHD struggle keeps you accountable and sane.

Another underrated tool? Money dates with a partner or your business bestie. Setting a regular, low-pressure time to review finances together turns a dreaded chore into a social event. It’s accountability plus a bit of fun.

3. Build Systems for Accountability

Rituals and routines are your secret weapons, but also sticking to them is a big challenge for ADHDers. Try to pick a consistent weekly time for financial check-ins, even if it’s just 15 minutes to scan your accounts or plan upcoming payments. Stick to it like it’s a meeting with your favourite client (because honestly, it’s a meeting with your future self). Set up systems and reminders for it like you would for a client meeting. Consider stacking it right after anything else in your weekly calendar that is a must-do!

4. Personalize Your Plan — Because ADHD Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

You’ve got to get to know your own time blindness triggers and patterns. Do you zone out most after lunch? Hyperfocus in the mornings? Notice what’s knocking you off track, then design your tools and routines around those habits.

I know hyperfocus is a double-edged sword. I set alarms to break out of it so I can handle other tasks and reminders to prepare for deadlines looming in the background. I also set up my weekly schedule so I start my week of with the tasks I tend to get lost in. This allows me to start the week of with getting them taken care of and then the middle and end of the week are dedicated to client meetings.

Parting Thoughts:

Time blindness can suck big time! It’s a huge pain point for ADHD entrepreneurs trying to keep their finances and lives in check. But the silver lining? With a few practical strategies, tools, and support systems tailored to your brain, you can manage it and win with your money.

Start with one small change: set a reminder for your next bill, book a quick money date, or schedule a 15-minute financial check-in this week. Those tiny wins build momentum, reduce stress, and help you keep moving forward.

Want more ADHD-entrepreneur-friendly tips on managing your business and personal finances? Check out some of my other articles, which break it down without judgment and provide all the real talk you need.

You’ve got this!!