Is Time Blindness Real, or Is It an Excuse For Being Late at Work? Here's What Experts Say
A viral TikTok video about time blindness received mixed responses from netizens. Some dismissed it and claimed it was just an excuse for some employees why they come late to work. However, experts argue that the condition is real.
Viral Time Blindness Video on TikTok
In a tearful TikTok post that has been seen nearly 5 million times, user Chaotic Philosopher, who identified herself as neurodivergent, bemoaned the "culture where workers are cut off because they struggle being on time." She complained about the system questioning those who struggle to be on time and alleged that those who do were the ones who are entitled.
The video received several responses, many accusing her of fabricating the story on social media. Many also suggested that she use an alarm instead to avoid being late.
Several also joked about the condition, with one saying what if the payroll staff had time blindness. Another said, what if one patient was set for a life/death surgery and the surgeon was late due to time blindness?
Several netizens also shared how they avoid being late. One said she sets reminders and alarms to keep herself on track, and she doesn't expect her co-workers to stay late or wait because that is entitlement.
Another said she had the same issue and had to make her accommodation by setting frequent alarms or beeping watches. A different user claimed to struggle with the same condition and said she accommodated herself by showing up 30 minutes early.
@chaotic_philosopher I'm tired of workers' rights not being prioritized in this country. And we're entitled for suggesting it should be different... I don't think so. #workersrights #employeerights #workers #capitalismsucks #capitalism #thesystemisbroken #fyp ♬ original sound - ️Chaotic Philosopher️
What Did Experts Say?
A warped sense of time can be caused by many characteristics associated with ADHD, including working memory and attention regulation issues, Smriti Joshi, principal psychologist at AI mental health chatbot Wysa, told MailOnline.
Other experts, however, assert that time blindness can occur in people without ADHD. The NHS admits that people with ADHD may have organization and time management issues despite not officially recognizing the condition.
Early childhood trauma, according to Sue Smith, a psychotherapist and spokesman for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), can also cause time blindness and symptoms of dissociation in children as well as adults.
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What Is Time Blindness?
According to Robert Common, a psychologist and mental health specialist based in Cambodia, "time blindness" describes the inability to discern when time has gone or predict how long a task will take.
As a result, he explained, victims can frequently find themselves rushing to catch the bus, missing deadlines, or mistakenly believing a task will take ten minutes to complete.
Although the phenomenon is not recognized as a disease, some clinicians use it to describe losing track of time.
Common shared some symptoms of time blindness, which include regularly losing track of time, inability to keep schedules and meet appointments, frequently missing deadlines, feeling stuck in the present, and putting things off. Smith added that the symptoms can range from complete immersion in an activity to complete distraction, such as taking on five occupations at once and feeling overwhelmed by the pandemonium.
Common admitted that time blindness could easily be mistaken as laziness. He added that employers might take it against the employee, believing the latter is not taking their job seriously.
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