An ADHD Academic's Answer to Time Blocking

There have been many days in the past when sticking to my carefully crafted schedule felt impossible, no matter how pretty it looked.

You find yourself in a familiar position. Your calendar is open, filled with perfectly color-coded blocks. A thing of beauty, really.

Took you all weekend.

And sadly, by 10am on Monday morning? Total system collapse.

This story is autobiographical. There have been many days in the past when sticking to my carefully crafted schedule felt impossible, no matter how pretty it looked.

But I'm happy to report that since learning about my unconventional brain, I've been able to develop a time blocking system that actually works. It comes in five parts, and I want to share the first one with you in today's chapter.

Why Time Blocking Feels Like Torture

So why do we struggle with this almost physical discomfort when we try to follow a schedule? Well, according to research, when you have an unconventional brain (like ADHD), your executive functioning works differently. What that means for us is that we won't experience the same ease in transitioning between tasks or accurately estimating how long things take.

I used to think I was just bad at scheduling. Turns out, I was using a system designed for neurotypical brains.

I'd schedule 30 minutes for a task that needed 2 hours. I'd put in deep work during my afternoon energy crashes. I'd pack my day tighter than the skinny jeans I wore back then.

Then wonder why I couldn't execute.

An Unconventional Answer to Time Blocking

So what can we do about this? After all, we still need to organize our time somehow.

One of the things we could do is abandon time blocking altogether and just work in reactive mode, handling whatever seems most urgent in the moment.

Effective?

Sometimes!

But not great for our business growth long-term.

So what else can we do?

Well, the first thing we need to do is accept our unconventional brain.

We do NOT naturally estimate time well.

And that makes sense!

After all, we experience time differently than others do.

But what if we could give our brain a hand and create a scheduling system that actually works with our unique wiring?

This is where ADHD-friendly time blocking comes in.

The Time Block Truth Protocol

To avoid the frustration that comes from a schedule that collapses by mid-morning, we must create one that respects how our brains actually work.

But at this point, you might think to yourself, "I've tried everything and nothing works; maybe I'm just not cut out for structure at all!"

And I understand that feeling.

Although I will point out: How many hours have you lost trying to catch up after your schedule falls apart?

How about we give ourselves permission to build a schedule that feels good from the start?

Here are the initial changes I made to my time blocking system:

1. I doubled all my time estimates. Not because I'm slow, but because time blindness is real! If I think something will take 30 minutes, I block an hour. This single change reduced my daily stress by about 70%. And most of the time that is how long it takes.

2. I cut my task list in half. Ambition isn't the problem, physics is. There are only so many hours in a day, and pretending otherwise sets us up for failure. If you need help with this, try the 2-minute Focus Formula.

3. I scheduled blocks only during my peak energy hours. For me, that's 5-9 AM and 4-6 PM. Your optimal times might be completely different—and that's okay!

4. I make my blocks visually impossible to ignore. Bright colors, clear labels, and treating them like non-negotiable doctor's appointments rather than gentle suggestions.

5. I communicated my blocks to everyone who might interrupt. And I confirmed they understood what "I'm in a focus block" actually means (hint: not "feel free to message me anyway").

Most importantly?

I stopped falling for the procrastination trap.

The Three Barriers to Starting

You know the one, where you think scrolling Instagram on the couch will somehow build momentum to start that dreaded task?

Spoiler: It never does.

Instead, I created a system called Step Into Focus, a routine specifically designed for our unconventional brains.

It attacks the three barriers that actually cause our procrastination:

1. The Dopamine Desert

Our brains crave stimulation. When a task doesn't provide enough dopamine naturally, we need to create our own reward system. This doesn't always mean bribing yourself with chocolate (although I love M&M’s myself).

Instead, it means making the process itself more rewarding:

• Working in your favorite environment

• Having a beverage you enjoy nearby

• Using tools that feel good to use

• Breaking the task into smaller chunks with clear completion points

I’ll dive into this more in my chapter next week.

2. The Clarity Canyon

Ever sat down to work and suddenly realized you have no idea where to start? That's the Clarity Canyon, and it's a massive barrier for unconventional brains.

3. The Emotional Wall

This one's sneaky. Often, we're not avoiding the task itself, we're avoiding how we think it will make us feel.

Fear of rejection if it's not perfect. Anxiety about getting feedback. Frustration because we've failed at this before.

The Surprising Result

When I first implemented this system, I was worried I'd get less done. After all, I was scheduling fewer tasks and building in all these buffers and breaks.

But something magical happened.

I started consistently completing what I scheduled. My delivery dates became reliable. The quality of my work improved because I wasn't rushing at the last minute.

And most surprisingly? I felt better. The constant background tension of "I'm behind on everything" began to fade.

I finished more without the hyperfocus binges or hours of procrastinating. I could plan to spend time with friends and family before the deadline, knowing the tasks would be done.

Make the Shift Today

Over the next few weeks, I’ll teach you the full Step Into Focus System to break through each barrier. But if you want my exact template now? Reply with "BLOCKS" and I'll send it your way.

Because the secret isn't working harder within a broken system. It's building a system that works WITH your brain instead of against it.

Wishing you fun and focus, the Unconventional way.

Skye "Finally Following My Schedule" Waterson

P.S. If overwhelm and procrastination are risking your revenue, here’s how to fix it:

1. The Founder's Clarity Audit.
If you’re struggling to figure out what the “big boulder” or “north star” should be in your business, and how to finally move on it, this is for you. It’s only $80 and it’ll give you instant clarity on what really matters for moving your business forward — plus a simple neuro hack to make you want to do it. Click here to get started.

2. The Unconventional Organisation Coaching Program
Used by business owners, this framework is designed to help you grow your revenue by focusing and getting time back without the stress. Most people feel focused and start building momentum in the first two weeks. If traditional systems don’t work for your brain, this program does. Reply with "UNLOCK" to apply.

3. Private Coaching for High-Level Entrepreneurs
For six and seven-figure business owners ready to scale efficiently, increase revenue, and eliminate chaos—I have a few spots left to work with me this year. Reply with "ONE-ON-ONE" and some details about your business to apply.