Nobody likes to be late, so why do we constantly find ourselves rushing out the door? Whether we’re trying to make it to an 8 a.m. class, a dentist’s appointment or a dinner date (while your boyfriend waits impatiently on the couch), it seems that we’re always in a race against the clock. Not only is punctuality a reflection on your character (being on time shows others that you care), but it can also make or break your chances of getting a job (have you ever heard of someone landing a job when they arrived to the interview 30 minutes late?). “You’re creating a reputation for yourself, and it’s not the best reputation to be establishing,” says psychologist Linda Sapadin, PhD, author of Master Your Fears. “People feel they can’t trust or rely on you, so it impacts relationships.”
We don’t try to be late on purpose, so there must be some logical reason…right? For those who are sick of being tardy to the party, Her Campus breaks down the top reasons why you’re having trouble getting out the door on time and how you can manage your schedule so you’ll never have to keep someone waiting again.
Are you disorganized?
Let’s be honest: when you’re really late for something (especially if it’s important), you end up getting to your destination feeling flustered, frustrated and maybe even a little frantic, which are the last things you want to feel when you’re getting ready for a job interview or the first day of class. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you’re organized. Print out the directions to your destination the night before (and make sure you understand them) and not five minutes before you leave, when you realize you’re out of printer ink. Pick out your outfit and lay out your clothes ahead of time to avoid wasting an hour looking for an unwrinkled cardigan in the morning. Take a trip to the gas station the day before to make sure your gas tank is full so you don’t have to worry about running out as you’re driving. By planning ahead and taking a few extra minutes of preparation, you can prevent yourself from sweating later.
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Are you choosing to be late?
If you’re finding yourself continuously arriving literally 10 minutes late to your 8 a.m. psych class every day, believe it or not, you’re choosing to be late. Some experts say that this has much to do with your personality type, which can fall into one of two different categories: the rebel and the “crisis-maker.” Rebels are the types who are resisting and just don’t want to do what other people expect them to do. The “crisis-makers” are those who need that burst of adrenaline to really get moving and find motivation by being under the gun. Either way, if these psychological factors are making you late, try finding a different motivation to help you get out of the door on time. Try challenging yourself to get to class (or wherever you have to go) one minute earlier than the day before until you can get there exactly on time. If you can do it for a whole week, reward yourself with a small treat like getting a latte and croissant from your favorite bakery on Friday morning.
Do you have trouble saying ‘no’?
Your roommate wants you to watch a YouTube video (which turns into three). You think you can squeeze in one more load of laundry before you leave the house. You just need to answer those last two e-mails that have been sitting in your inbox. If this sounds like you, then you are not alone in having a problem with saying “no”, not only to others, but also to yourself. You may be the best estimator when it comes to budgeting your time, but when someone asks you to do something that your schedule doesn’t allow, it’s okay to tell them (or yourself) the truth. So the next time your friend wants you to proofread her thesis for the tenth time before you meet your roommate for lunch, have a few phrases on hand such as, “I’d love to, but I’m on deadline” or “I’ll be back in half an hour. I’d be happy to look at it then.” Even when you’re trying to squeeze in something for yourself (like doing one more load of whites), as much as you’d like to check it off your to-do list, just remind yourself that you can make time to do it when you return. “If you really want to beat this, the minute you think of squeezing in one more thing before you leave, just don’t do it,” says Julie Morgenstern, author of Time Management From the Inside Out. “Stop yourself in your tracks, grab your bag and walk out the door.”
Do you have anxiety?
When you’re feeling particularly anxious about something, it’s only natural to procrastinate and avoid doing it. Sure, you’re nervous about that bio final, but even if that’s the case, you don’t want to show up late for it because of your nerves. According to Dr. Keith Ablow, psychiatrist and commentator for Fox News, “If people are on their way to something where they feel apprehensive or stressed, the mind’s circuitry often avoids the area of discomfort.” As a result, you start to lose track of time and are consequently late. If you have a tendency to show up late for things that you’re feeling anxious or worried about, try taking preventative measures such as making time for relaxation before you have to head out the door (even if this just means allowing yourself enough time to get to your testing room a good 15 minutes early or enough time to buy a coffee to relax with beforehand).
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Tips and Tricks For Being On Time:
- Expect the unexpected
While we here at HC are glass-half-full kind of gals, we still expect the worst to happen on the days that are most important (e.g., hitting a traffic jam on your way to the first day of class).
“I think a big reason people tend to be late is the fact that life is full of unknowns,” says HC writer Carlene Helble. “You may be on time, grabbing your keys exactly when you planned to, but did you plan on someone leaving a scratch on your car? Or there being an accident that slows down traffic? Did you forget your tickets? That’s life! Expect the unexpected. Someone once told me if you’re ten minutes early, you’re on time, if you’re on time, you’re already late.”
- Be super organized
It may take a little extra preparation, but it pays off to make sure that all your ducks are in a row when being late for something is not an option.
“In the morning if I have to be somewhere, I usually have an outfit picked out the night before, my lunch will be packed if needed, and I do make lists for just about everything. I think my own personal secret to being on time, though, is that I move quickly. I don’t ever waste time!” says former HC writer Katie Crandell.
Likewise, former HC writer Meagan Templeton-Lynch says, “Sometimes when I’m running late it’s because I’ve lost my keys, or a shoe, and when you stress out you tend to mess up even more. I try to always keep things in my apartment where they belong, so that I never have to run around looking for last-minute stuff.”
- Trick yourself
No one likes playing mind games, but in this case, we’ll make an exception.
“Trick yourself into thinking you’re required to be there five minutes early,” suggests Meagan. “Five minutes won’t make a huge difference in your routine, such as waking up a few minutes earlier, but if you do everything five minutes earlier than usual it can pay off.” Another idea is to simply set your clock or watch five minutes fast, which will instantly make you hustle a little faster out the door.
- Keep family and friends in check
Even though she is “ALWAYS on time,” Meagan says that she comes “from a highly disorganized go-with-the-flow family, and I think I started to resent it when I always had to wait on them to be ready long after I was. So if I’m going somewhere that requires someone else to come or drive, I try to stress what time we need to leave (and I usually aim for a few minutes before) so that everyone is ready to go at the same time and no one is stuck waiting.”
- Keep a log
“Write down how long you think each thing will take and then how long it actually took,” says Morgenstern. You might be surprised when you think it takes 20 minutes to drive to work, but in reality, it only takes you 15. By actually knowing how long something takes to do, you can better manage your time.
- Be realistic
If you know that there is a 75-percent chance of snow tomorrow, you know you’re probably going to have to allot extra time for watching the weather in the morning, sprinkling salt on the driveway, scraping the ice and snow off your car and, most importantly, driving to work or walking to class. Sometimes you just have to be realistic when it comes down to how long certain tasks are going to take, and it’s better to give yourself more time than less.
Morgenstern gives an example of blow-drying your hair in the morning, “You have to be realistic about how long certain things take, especially things you do routinely. If you know it takes 20 minutes to blow-dry your hair, allow yourself 20 minutes to blow-dry your hair,” she says, “and leave a little extra time for those days when your hair is uncooperative.”
So, HC-ers, what are your tips for being on time? Have any good horror stories about being late that you’d like to share? Post them in the Comments sections below!
Sources
Success Magazine
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=47924
Linda Sapadin, PhD, author of Master Your Fears
Julie Morgenstern, author of Time Management From the Inside Out
Dr. Keith Ablow, psychiatrist and commentator for Fox News
Carlene Helble, contributing HC writer
Katie Crandell, contributing HC writer
Meagan Templeton-Lynch, contributing HC writer