The perfect tool for ADD / ADHD Adults at work
One of the most useful tools anyone with ADD /ADHD can have is a timer. It can be set at intervals to keep your mind on task, to remind you of when to start or stop an activity, or to make sure you leave in time for a meeting. I've often recommended the Invisible Clock, which allows you to set up to 12 times in advance.
But, there are several common roadblocks to the timer getting put to use. Either people forget to buy it, or they don't get to reading the instructions on how to use it, or misplace it and forget about it.
So I was really excited to hear out about an online timer…
…At this point, I know a lot of my readers will be groaning and thinking, “She never knew about online timers before??!” And the other half will be thinking, “Great, I didn't know about that!” We ADD / ADHD folks tend to be either very current with technology, or very NOT.
Benefits of an Online Timer
An online timer probably doesn't do everything that Invisible Clock does, but it has several great advantages:
- you don't have to learn how to set it – just type in the number of minutes
- you can't lose it
- it's available anywhere you have internet
- you can reset it infinite times quickly by simply typing a number
- it's free to use
To see the timer I learned about, just go to the website www.e.ggtimer.com. Type in the number of minutes you want and hit “GO.” You can set the online timer to ring or beep. It couldn't be simpler!
I typed “online timer” into Google and found alternatives with higher levels of sophistication. Another easy-set timer is http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/.
Has using a timer helped you at work? Please tell us how!
Kara
Thie e.ggtimer is awesome! I will definitely use it! Is there an APP for a smart phone?
Bonnie Mincu
I don’t know, but I bet there is. Google it!
Lynn
exploring to Blog with this
Lynn
I’ve had chronic migraines since 15yrs young, now chronic cluster ones 65yrs young now.
I always knew something was strange, my mother had to get me tutors for me keep up to grat. from High School. I felt stupit. My father called me stupid. I didn’t know I learned a different way. An MD told me When I had myself tested when I was 50. I tested high ADD. I’m alone since my husband died 10 yrs ago and clutter is the result of…becomes the monster I live with.
Thank you Bonnie
Lynn
Bonnie Mincu
Migraines would make dealing with clutter particularly difficult. Set the timer for short bursts to make it easier… see how much you can get done before the timer goes off. Fast music helps too.
Linda Secretan
Love the timers you suggested.
It’s easy-peasy to set multiple timers on a smart phone as well. Since I’ve started doing this, I’m much more likely to be accountable to myself. Also hedging myself in with Outlook and Google calendars — also synced to my smart phone.
Pretty soon I won’t be able to get away from myself at all!!
Yo
I use the online countdown timer often and it works great! I usually set it for 20 minutes at a time, and that way I can take a short break every 20 mins, although by then i’m usually settled so i just press restart again. Breaking it up like that really helps me get a lot more done rather than setting it for an hour in a go even thought i’m working for the same amount of time!
Anne2
I don’t always have the cell phone near me. Last week I bought a vibrating watch. I don’t mind that it has a larger face (like a man’s watch). It has 12 alarm settings, 2 timers, and a stop watch option. I had to enlarge the instructions, and don’t have the patience to read it all yet (I prefer trial and error method). The point is that it is so exciting to have the option of setting 12 times for a day (really 14 with the 2 timers)! The site is – http://www.VibraLITE.com. I sometimes accidentally turn off the alarm on my cell phone, plus people can hear my cell phone vibrate. With the watch, only I can feel the watch vibrate. The first time it went off I had the strange censation that I had turned into a robot with a vibrate sensor in my wrist (haha). The possibilities of setting it for all sorts of time exercises is really fun to think about! Hope this helps. All Bonnie’s tips and suggestions get me a little further to goals I am trying to attain.
Mark Freedman
Your timing is impeccable. I was just thinking that I need this. Thanks!
Oops… time’s up. Have to get onto the next task… 😉
Isabelle Dervaux
Love the egg timer, but I can’t figure out how to make it ring so it doesn’t help. Has any one figured out where to find the option?
Thanks!
Bonnie Mincu
How to make it ring: At the bottom of the page at e.ggtimer.com, you’ll see “Shhh… open secret beta options pane.” Click on that and a menu opens where you get to choose an alert type (beep or ring) and your alert volume. Then click APPLY.
Emily
And make sure your speakers are on!!
Barbara
Thanks — some very helpful suggestions here. I do sometimes use my cell phone’s alarm clock feature, setting it to 15 minutes before I need to leave somewhere. Transitions are difficult for me, and I find that if I don’t give myself a reminder, I end up being late to appointments, or the last one leaving work, simply because I didn’t allow time to rinse out my coffee mug, water plants, pack my briefcase, etc.
Bonnie Mincu
Barbara, good point! Transitioning out of doing one thing (such as drinking coffee) to doing another (getting out the door) is harder for us with ADD. Reminder warnings and leaving “cushion time” are essential. Always good to keep in mind the minutes it takes to prepare to do the next thing. One reason people are late is when they forget this.
I often suggest a 15-minute, 10-minute, 5-minute and final timer reminder. That’s why the timers that allow multiple reminders set up in advance are so good for us.