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Time Blindness While Traveling (And How to Work Around It)
Because no one wants to be the late friend and the underpacked one.
Ashleigh Brown
June 11, 2025
Table of Contents
Wait—What Is Time Blindness, Exactly?
Time blindness is a common experience for people with ADHD or executive functioning challenges. It’s when your brain struggles to feel the passage of time. You know what time it is, but you don’t sense how long things take, so you run late, overestimate how much you can do, or get lost in a task (or Amex lounge Aperol spritz).
It’s not laziness, it’s neurological.
That’s why travel can be especially tricky: flights, check-ins, boarding times, group meetups. It’s all one big time based system.
🧠 “Time blindness is not a moral failing, it’s a mismatch between how your brain tracks time and how society measures it.”
The Real Cost of Running Late While Traveling
Let me tell you a quick story. My husband and I missed our flight to Chicago not because we overslept, but because we lost track of time in the Amex lounge. We were vibing, eating well, enjoying a really good Old Fashioned… and just like that, the flight was gone.
I was so upset. Because when you live with time blindness, it takes a ton of effort just to get to the airport: planning outfits, narrowing down packing lists, checking TSA times, battling decision fatigue, and regulating your nervous system through the chaos of it all.
So to go through all of that… and still miss your flight? It hits different.
Trying to stay regulated while TSA lines move slower than your motivation.
That’s why I started building a rhythm around travel that works for my brain so I can get there on time and still feel like myself when I arrive.
How I Manage Time Blindness Before a Trip
If I don’t want to show up frazzled, I need to prep for the whole process—not just the packing. Here’s what helps:
1. Pack the night before (even if it’s just the core stuff)
I focus on essentials that help me feel regulated and would be hard to replace. If I can't pack everything, I pack those things at least.
2. Shower the night before (or set a shower timer)
Time blindness in a steamy shower? Dangerous combo. If I must shower in the morning, I set an alarm timer on my phone.
3. Use alarms in layers
Apple Watch vibration. Phone alarm. Husband’s alarm. Triple safety net. If I’m solo, I’ll text a friend and ask them to call me in the morning just in case.
4. Plan my outfits by event, not just vibes
Packing “what I feel like wearing” the day of? Recipe for a suitcase full of nothing to wear. I plan full outfits with backups if I’m unsure.
Here’s how I pack to beat time blindness + decision fatigue.
Helpful Apps, Alarms & Packing Tools
Here’s what actually helps:
✅ TripIt – auto-imports your itinerary and alerts you to gate changes
✅ Pomodoro Timer (Digital or Travel) – helps manage pre-flight time in chunks
✅ Apple Watch or Vibration Alarm – useful for deep sleepers
✅ Notion or Notes App Checklists – less room for executive dysfunction
✅ Airport apps (CLT’s is great!) – to check TSA lines and lounge access
TripIt auto-imports your itinerary and alerts you to gate changes—ideal for neurodivergent travelers who need real-time updates.
Time Tips for Group Travel
Traveling with friends? Be upfront about your time needs.
SAVE THIS:
Tell them: “Hey, I sometimes struggle with time blindness do we know what time we’re leaving for [event]?”
Also: If your group is very go-with-the-flow, that might cause some anxiety for you. Ask for 1-hour notice before major transitions so you can prep.
And let’s be honest: No one loves the late friend. It affects everyone’s energy and the trip vibe. If you’re gonna be late, at least show up on time for the moment aka: dress cute, bring the vibes, or make the reservation.
Because if you’re going to be the late friend, at least make it fashionably so.
Final Thought: It’s Not Just About Being Late
Time blindness isn’t a flaw. But if you know it’s a pattern, take it seriously.
Missing flights, causing group stress, showing up frazzled it all adds up.
You deserve travel that feels peaceful from the moment you pack, not just once you land.
So let’s stop letting time steal the joy from our trips.
Have you ever missed a flight because of time blindness? |
What is time blindness?
Time blindness refers to difficulty sensing or estimating the passage of time, often experienced by people with ADHD or executive functioning challenges.
How does ADHD affect travel planning?
ADHD can make it harder to stay on schedule, pack efficiently, manage checklists, or anticipate how long things take leading to late arrivals or missed flights.
What are the best tools to help manage time blindness while traveling?
Top tools include TripIt, digital Pomodoro timers, Notion packing checklists, and vibration alarms like those on Apple Watch or Fitbit.
Why do I always run late for flights?
You may be experiencing time blindness or difficulty internalizing time which can result in misjudging how long airport procedures and transitions will take.
How can I stay on time for group trips?
Be transparent with your group, use multiple alarms, plan outfits in advance, and use time chunking strategies like the Pomodoro method to manage prep time.
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