If you’ve ever:

• Squeezed in back-to-back appointments with no wriggle-room to actually get from one location to the other
• Double-booked yourself by accident, or
• Forgotten to check your calendar before heading out the door…

…you’re not alone.

These aren’t failures in planning. The “life admin” load is real, and for many neurodiverse people, particularly those with ADHD, autism, or sensory processing challenges, it’s an exhausting burden.

Australians spend an average of 4.5 hours per week on unpaid life administration: things like making appointments, paying bills, chasing paperwork, and managing calendars. That’s half a workday — gone, every week — to things most of us were never taught how to do well.

And for those with neurodivergent brains? Executive functioning challenges make that load feel heavier, messier, and often, completely overwhelming. Paperwork sits untouched for weeks because it seems like too huge a job, or one that you can’t seem to make sense of.

Meanwhile, more tasks pile up on top of the ones you’re already struggling to get through.

The Hidden Challenges That Make Life Admin So Hard

Through my work with neurodiverse clients over the past decade, a few common pain points come up again and again:

1. Forgetting to Allow Travel Time

Many clients find themselves rushing — or missing appointments entirely — because they forget to factor in driving time. Calendar apps default to clean start and end times, but real life isn’t that tidy.

Simple fix: Add a recurring 15–30 minute “travel buffer” before and after events that require leaving home. This will also prevent you squeezing in an appointment without noticing the overlap.

2. Not Checking the Calendar

Some people create beautifully planned calendars… that never get opened. Out of sight, out of mind.

Simple fix: Set a daily phone alarm with a label like “🗓️ Check Calendar.” Or attach calendar reviewing to a habit you already do, like making your morning coffee.

3. Paperwork Paralysis

ND clients often describe paperwork as the hardest task of the week — forms that make no sense, unclear requests, and no energy left to deal with them.

The UK’s ADHD Foundation found that 1 in 5 neurodiverse adults report difficulty managing appointments and admin — tasks that many organisations assume are simple.

Simple fix: Try “paperwork power sessions”. Set up a couple of 30-minute blocks per week just for actioning forms. Use a tray or digital folder labelled “To Action” instead of “To Do” — more specific, less intimidating.

These Are Not Just Productivity Hacks

They’re acts of self-respect.

What I teach isn’t about “fixing” people or turning ND brains into neurotypical ones. It’s about recognising the systems and tweaks that make life feel less chaotic — and more possible.

You deserve systems that are designed around how your brain actually works. I can show you just how simple it can be to set them up to suit you.

✅ Want My Free Checklist?

I’ve created a free printable checklist of ND-friendly strategies to help with time, appointments, and paperwork.

It includes:

• Calendar settings to adjust right now
• How to create driving time buffers
• Weekly routines to reduce decision fatigue

Want a copy? Download now: ND Friendly Productivity Checklist – Life Balance Essentials

You don’t need to do it all alone — and you definitely don’t need to do it the hard way.