Yeap, it is

I need that time before my appointment to pace back and forth worrying that I might miss my appointment

And then get there an hour early to pace
- Or wear yourself out pacing and lay down for a nap or distraction and end up 5 minutes late.

Oh absolutely. Frankly I can’t imagine it being any other way.

Whenever possible, I schedule things as early as possible on the day. I’ll take that 8 AM dental appointment or whatever. And it’s not just unpleasant things either. I also prefer a cinema visit as early as possible for example.

I definitely feel like my day is ‘on pause’ whenever I’m doing a thing later in the day. It’s very annoying not to be able to enjoy the rest of your day because of it. So, early it is.

Glad I'm not the only one who prefers the early appointments for movies. I like going like 3 or 4 weeks after premier on a Sunday morning.
- There’s more of us… but: we are a rare species.
  
  We got a brand new nine screen cinema back in december 2022. They actually run movies in the morning. Not all of them, unfortunately, but you certainly have good options around noon.
  
  I love movies, but people not so much. So I usually pick the quietest showings. Sometimes I’ll see a movie in a completely empty theater. Friday afternoon around 4-5 PM is good for that.
  
  I’ve actually got an unlimited movie pass, so I can see everything when I want. Usually the day or week it comes out. I’m seeing the new Planet of the Apes in… three hours.

I feel so seen right now.

That’s why I try my best to make the earliest possible appointments

8am appointment, but you still can't make any plans all day in case it runs long.
- 8am but after you get through the appointment you give yourself permission to goof off the whole day because you already got something done. 😞
- Nope, I just wouldn't be able to sleep the night before.
- Then I can't do anything the night before because I have to get up early

Can't take the risk of getting in the middle of something, losing track of time, and being late to/missing the appointment.

Hey Google, set an alarm for 3 pm called 'get ready for appointment '
- I'm sorry, I didn't get that. Try again?
  
  beeeeep

This was a meme that made me start looking into having ADHD.
I always thought it was because I was an introvert.
I described it to a few folk, and they were like "I don't think that's being an introvert".
More Google led to "waiting mode" which describes it perfectly.
Everything from a weekend being "the only commitment is work on Monday, so I better do nothing to make sure I make the most of it". Through "dentist at 13.00, might as well have a lie in" and still being late.
- I don't think it necessarily indicates ADHD. I mean, obviously it will depend on the person and for some it might. But for me, having something scheduled to do later in the day will mean I can't fully relax until it's complete. If I get it out of the way in the morning, then I can relax.
  
  It's part of the reason when I was in school I could never really relax, even though I wasn't necessarily doing things all the time. I have a job that I physically can't take home so I can just chill at the end of the day.

Yep. I am also that person. I'm worried I'll forget about the thing I have to do if I do literally anything else.

I'm in this picture and I don't like it :-D

don't like it :-D

Kinda sending mixed messages with that overjoyed smiley, then 😁

this is why when I had flexible hours at a previous job I started at 4am. it was also to not get stuck behind a train fpr 45min to 2 hours. Now I can't wake up that early without feeling dead. I dont know what happened.

It's a combination of anticipatory and time anxieties mixed with energy conservation.

What kinds of appointments are you guys making that are so stressful?

Literally anything. If I have a specific time to be at a specific place my whole day is ruined.
- Please tell me more, tomorrow, at 6pm precisely. ;-)
- are these appointments that you chose for yourself that are accomplishing things for you?
For me, stressfulness of the appointment has nothing to do with it. It's just...a feeling that I have to wait for the appointment. Hard to explain.
I think it's general anxiety. I get butterflies in my stomach when I do anything off my routine. Even if it's just hanging with friends. What do I wear, how do I get there, will I know people, should I bring something?
It's not about the appointment itself, but the fact that it's set at all. Probably an ADHD thing, though I haven't been formally diagnosed.
- It's also an autism thing, though there is some considerable overlap there so you could be forgiven for not knowing.
  
  Source: it's me, I'm the autist
- I very much don't have ADHD, but I also struggle with the "I have an appointment later, so all I can do today is wait for the appointment" thing.
In the US some medical providers charge the cost of the visit without insurance if you’re late or don’t show, so a $20-30 appointment can potentially turn into one that costs hundreds. That alone makes me anxious about appointments, because I don’t know off the top of my head if any of my providers do that because I’m neurotically on time, lol.
- you can ask them what their no show/cancellation fee/policy is, rather than fantasize about the potential wrath.

What is?

I don't have an appointment, and I still can't do anything all day

I’ve been getting better at this! I have a pretty good idea of how quick certain outings to eateries, groceries, or other basics can be. I estimate only a small half hour from the appointment in question, and leave that as a buffer. It helps that my body has been waking me up early in the morning, somewhat against my wishes. It’s weird for a gamer like myself to realize how many hours are actually in the morning.

So do something. Nobody can do it for you

She can't, she has an appointment at 4.

Or the night before, for that matter.