Why Rigid Time Management Can Fail for ADHD Brains (and What Works Instead)

Time boxing doesn’t work for everyone.

My client told me, “It’s too rigid. Too boring. I need some spontaneity.”

I agreed. A fully Time-Boxed calendar made me feel claustrophobic. Plus, so many of my activities are outdoors and dependent on highly changeable local weather—I couldn’t possibly schedule them days in advance.

So I had to come up with a system that worked for me. It also works for many of my clients.

Focus Days: A System That Works for ADHD Brains

Here’s how it works:

✅ Choose four key ongoing tasks you’ve been struggling with at work.
✅ Assign one task per day for four days of the five-day week.
✅ Keep the fifth day as a Float Day—to catch up, get ahead, or shift priorities if needed.
✅ On each Focus Day, prioritize that day’s task—but you’re still free to work on others too.

This system works because it frees you from guilt and overwhelm—you’re not constantly wondering when you’ll get back to something. If you don’t complete a task that’s OK because it will have its Focus Day soon.

How I Used This System in My Restaurant

When I owned my restaurant, I always had four key business goals I wanted to tackle between lunch and dinner service, such as:

• Marketing

• An art project for the restaurant

• Following up with a guest, vendor, or team member

• Team leadership & mentorship

Each day, I’d prioritize one of these—but I could still work on the others if time allowed.

If I didn’t finish something, I didn’t stress. I knew I’d cycle back to it in a few days.

The fifth day was my Float Day. Some weeks, I used it to catch up. Other weeks, I used it to get ahead or handle unexpected priorities.

If I had clung to a rigid time management system, I would have constantly felt like I was behind—or worse, ignored the real priorities of the moment.

Using Focus Days allowed me to stay organized, adaptable, and in control—without the guilt.

Leadership Isn’t About Perfection—It’s About Adaptability

The best leaders know when to stick to the plan and when to pivot.

In your personal life, choose 5 ongoing things in a 7 day week, and reserve two days as Float Days for flexibility.

How would you adjust this technique to fit your life?