Time Management and ADHD/Autism

I was wondering if anyone had any advice/links to articles relating to struggles with normal/short time controls. Both myself and my eldest daughter completely fall apart with time controls (for pretty much anything such as other timed game segments, or exams in her case as well). I have watched Chessbrah on youtube and have seen that GM Eric Hansen does have ADHD but interestingly he finds the fast time controls more suitable while we are quite the opposite. (with him I believe its a boredom/focus issue with longer games)

I can manage long time controls, and so can my daughter - interestingly we both have found we can finish games/tasks/exam or test papers quite fast even when the time limit is long. (She gets extra time for tests and exams, never has had to go into that time but without its prescence is unable to even start the work). As far as I can tell, what happens is our hyperfocus kicks in and focuses on time and we are unable to process much else - at least that is what I think is happening.

I greatly enjoy correspondence chess for its practicallity as a busy parent/carer anyway but I would like to have the option to play fast games if able.

Music (less intense more relaxing music) seems to help a little and reduce the fixation on time and reduce stress slightly, but that is all I have found to help so far.

If you have ADHD (and/or Autism) I would be interested in hearing your experience thoughts on how time pressure affects you and anything you have found that helps.

@Leonulf said in #1:
> [...]
> I greatly enjoy correspondence chess for its practicallity as a busy parent/carer anyway but I would like to have the option to play fast games if able.
> [...]

I should not be responding because I don't have a ADHD or Autism diagnosis myself. Like many people I do have characteristics which could put me somewhere on the vast Autism spectrum (I find it very hard to function in social settings), but I doubt this has anything to do with time management problems when playing in my case.

However I want to "bump" your topic because I am hoping to see other people answer for themselves. The subject is very interesting and, for people like you and your daughter, of major practical importance when playing.

My only suggestion for now, which is probably worthless coming from someone without ADHD, is this:
** Is it possible, when playing fast games, to ignore the clock and instead play in a "rhythm" (and concentrate on that)? So, for example, in a five-minute game you should be staring at the board (not the clock) and playing a move every couple of seconds.

@Leonulf
Interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up. I tried searching for an answer with a search engine cause I remember that chess educator Karel van Delft, who also worked with famous chess coach IM Mark Dvoretsky in some chess trainings, has published articles about chess and autism but found zero answers. Maybe this article has some useful information for whoever reads it :
ido-iba.medium.com/chess-and-autism-d6a4a3b6ed44

I’m adhd

@Brian-E
Thanks. Responses are open to anyone, ADHD or not as advice/ideas can come from anywhere. I value all input. I have tried to block/ignore the clock but I find it a challenge as I know it exists so it hard to get it out of my head. But the rhythm idea is interesting, I could try actively focusing on the beat of any background music and try to play to the beat which might help me ignore the actual clock.

@achja
Thanks. I had a look at the article and the visual concentration is interesting. What interested me the most was the comment about children with ASD not viewing other individuals perspective as well/as much - this is certainly the case with my daughter and chess. For example - I taught her the colle system when she was first learning as it has a very simple concept/plan of action, she picked it up very well - but she does struggle with seeing what the opponent wants and clearly has a focus on her own plans in chess. She has both ASD and ADHD so although I was aware of her tendency to a more inward perspective I didn't notice that as affecting the chess in such a way - but it does explain why she struggles with that as well.

My son is on the Autism Spectrum. He really doesnt play much chess

I wish you and you daughter all the best.

I would try to concentrate on enjoying the game and find time controls which suit you. Perhaps with a longer increment to hopefully lessen the stress of playing. We used to llay a lot of 2/12 back in the ICC days.

Not easy I know, but all the best.

@xDoubledragon said in #7:
> Wait so you have ADHD and you could concentrate so long to write this message?

And another abusive discriminatory comment to report. Its frustrating how little people understand the condition and the medication. I am medicated which helps a lot, my neurology is completely different to a neurotypical person - I am on a high dose of stimulants which would make most people off the wall, yet due to my brain chemistry it slows me down, keeps me calmer etc. Being physically active helps concentrate during mental tasks - I type this at a desk using a kneeling stool that can rock forward/back. Unfortunately the medication has no effect on my issue with time pressure (neither does it with my daughter) so it may be more of an autistic trait (its hard to tell as a lot of characteristics overlap).

@JeffreyGoines said in #6:
> My son is on the Autism Spectrum. He really doesnt play much chess
>
> I wish you and you daughter all the best.
>
> I would try to concentrate on enjoying the game and find time controls which suit you. Perhaps with a longer increment to hopefully lessen the stress of playing. We used to llay a lot of 2/12 back in the ICC days.
>
> Not easy I know, but all the best.

Thank you for your comments. I have discussed this elsewhere as well and was told there is nothing wrong with focusing on long time controls if that is what I enjoy and does not cause me problems. It is good advice really.