What is time blindness?
Time blindness is a common ADHD-related difficulty accurately sensing how much time has passed or how long a task will take, which often leads to underestimating how long things take and running late.
Time Blindness Buffer Calculator
Enter how long you think a task will take, pick a buffer multiplier, and we'll give you a more realistic estimate — plus, if you have a deadline, exactly what time to start.
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Buffered estimate
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Extra time added
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Start by
How does this work?
We multiply your initial estimate by the buffer you choose, since ADHD time blindness tends to make first-pass estimates optimistic in a fairly consistent, multiplicative way — not randomly. If you enter a deadline, we subtract the buffered time from it to tell you the actual time you need to start, in your device's local time.
The right multiplier is personal and task-dependent — routines you've done a hundred times need less padding than something new, has a lot of steps, or requires switching contexts. Adjust the multiplier over time as you learn your own patterns.
Frequently asked questions
How much buffer should I add to a time estimate?
A common starting point is 1.5x your gut-feel estimate, though some people find they need closer to 2x for tasks with a lot of unknowns or transitions, and 1.25x for well-practiced routines.