Quit Overcommitting by Stretching Your Time Horizon

Dec 17, 2024

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Ever wonder why it always seems like you have said “yes” to more than you can effectively manage, when you have ADHD?

Impulsivity and people pleasing tendencies play a role, but our unique relationship with time that might be the biggest factor, making business success a lot more challenging.

We have trouble accurately estimating how much time, energy and effort our commitments actually take, especially when they are shiny and new.

A neurotypical person has a 12-16 week “time horizon” on average, while ours can feel a lot closer to 12-16 minutes at times.

The reason for this time distortion is that ADHD brains tend to perceive time in just two categories: Now and Not Now, whatever we are focused on at the moment, and everything else, from an hour from now to the rest of our lives.

Before I share specific strategies for “stretching” your time horizon, We will identify your specific overcommitment style—impulsivity, people-pleasing, perfectionism or FOMO.

Then, I’ll help you build a time horizon toolkit for more realistic planning and better decisions in general.

What you’ll get from this episode:

Emphasize making space for what matters most
Set intentional limits & boundaries for future success
Fewer mistakes, apologies and regrets.
Use these strategies as a pattern interrupt to increase mindful action

Remember, the key to managing your commitments with ADHD is not about squeezing more in, but about making space for what truly matters.

Ready to take fast action? 🧠✨

Identify your top overcommitment style
Select one matching strategy to implement
Schedule your first Future-Self Friday session

My team put together a free guide with the strategies in this episode, so you have a visual reminder to try them out. Grab your copy here.

The last two episodes of the year will be “mini-sodes” - short, actionable and intended to add a few more tools to your ADHD entrepreneur toolkit.

Be sure to subscribe or follow ADHD-ish so you don’t miss them.