Mm, it’s something that I’m still really struggling with/working on myself, actually. I tend to also deal by staying really busy, like to the point where I’m sort of notorious for it among the people who know me well, which works pretty well - really well when I’m hypomanic! - but doesn’t work so well when I “crash” and enter a depressive episode and can’t keep up, or when I have breaks from school, etc. Or when my health tanks (as it does on a pretty regular basis, yay endo) and I can’t get out of bed.

Having extended breaks/free time is, I’ve learned, actually really BAD for my mental health. So I try to STRUCTURE my time, even when I can’t stay BUSY with external appointments like school, work, etc. I make a to do list at the start of every day, and I time myself on specific tasks. I set timed goals, like, “I want to be done all my crap today in time to watch Monday Night Raw”. It also helps me to communicate with people regularly - which is why I take so many tumblr breaks when I’m studying/cleaning/etc; it’s easy to waste time on tumblr, but conversely, interacting with people on any level helps me get out of my head when I’m doing really solitary things.  Leaving the house and going to sit in a coffee shop or a park or library or whatever can also help, too. Basically anything that helps me feel like I’m actually part of the world, which has a rhythm and schedule, and not just floating around my apartment without any kind of anchor or influence. Being isolated AND without a static schedule is just a recipe for disaster, for me. (Which, you know - negotiating that with an anxiety disorder is REALLY AWESOME) (the all caps indicated sarcasm)

It’s a balancing act, really. I won’t say I’m good (or even that competent) at it yet. I spent most of my day today studying in bed and only left the house to get cat litter. The most productive thing I’ve done aside from making notes on the readings I’m being tested on next week is make dinner, and I even timed THAT wrong.

But I mean, it’s just one of those things that I think you have to teach yourself. Ideally time management is something that you sort of having instilled in you at a young age, but if you miss out on that, it’s down to you to get a grip on it as an adult, you know?

I’m sorry this isn’t more helpful. Um. Good luck? Let me know if you learn any tricks that work for you!