How to Be On Time Every Time

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

Deborah.M — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:40:03 GMT

I figured this out sometime ago and do most of the recommendations on this list. I have only been late a handful of times due to circumstances beyond my control (accident on the road). It really stresses me out to be late.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

Marquis — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:14:45 GMT

One thing that contributes to us being late all the time, is being overloaded with work and things we have to accomplish. Our computers and electronic gadgets allow us to respond quicker to requests, etc., so we take on more things to do and are given more things to do at work because we think and our bosses think we now have the ability to get more done faster. I know people who virtually run from one meeting to another because of their workload and are doing the work of 2 people. These gadgets were supposed to make our lives easier, but I think with this instantaneous response time has contributed to our stress and our tardiness.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

easy2teach — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:36:55 GMT

I think it is important to try to be on time whenever possible. Obviously, if a job requires punctuality then an employee needs to comply or accept the consequences. Aspergers does create a unique situation that makes the assessment of how much time is available for certain tasks close to impossible.

With all that taken into account, I think it was very close to laughable to suggest that a timer be purchased in order to create urgency. Why would anyone want to make more stress artificially imposed upon their own life? Of course it is more polite to be on time, but most people have friends that either make allowances for the lateness or pass on to other friendships. Maybe we should all just be a tad bit more accepting of those who are chronically on time or chronically late, or those who have a different cultural background, or whatever. Aren't there more important issues in life to get riled up about? I like what was said about how this will matter in fifty years. Now, that was a good way to evaluate it!

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

DLMdoc — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:00:21 GMT

I am a physician, and I am sorry, but when people are late it really messes up the schedule. And I do my darndest to stay on time for the patients. You blame the doctor when he/she is running late - it may not always be their fault. Patients ahead of you may have been late.

I do understand that patients being late is going to happen occasionally. The hit a trian, traffic is much worse than normal, etc. But it's those that are chronically late that drive me a bit nuts!

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

HK student — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:07:03 GMT

I always loved what I heard once, and I quote~ "If a person has no concept of time he would be on time some of the time."

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

Carol Morrisey — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:23:30 GMT

I find it easier to be on time when I don't multi-task--that is, I don't try to accomplish anything else but get ready for an appointment. I also carry a Reader's Digest in my purse for the times I have to wait on others.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

brat789456 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:32:16 GMT

I am on time for s=certain things that I probably shouldn't be..like Dr. appointments, only to wait another hour. Most times though if its a casual meeting with a friend etc. I might be 5 minutes late and I don't sweat it. I am okay with others being late. I am not that an@l to freak out about how unimportant someone thinks I am because they were late. Honestly I hate early birds. Come 10 minutes early to my house and you've just made it on my s-list. I am still getting things ready. My motto...the early bird gets the worm....but the early worm gets eaten.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

Yung Red612 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:30:20 GMT

I always try to be on time, sometimes early, but I get around on the city bus due to affordibility issues (I cant afford a car or gas) and sometimes esp on nights & weekends the bus dont run as much as during peak hours and it only take 1 or 2 disabled people i n wheel chairs or a series of red stop lights or a train going by and then the bus is late. sometimes its not feasable to take the next earlier bus (if their a hour or more apart- i should know I work on the weekend too) most of the time @ work they give me a break but they got this dumb policy if your more then 5 minutes late then you cant get paid up till the next half hour (if i get there @ 9:06 I cant start work till 9:30 and we dont have sick or pers days there and u know how the economy is right now for job-seekers and Im ok with my job) people need to not assume that if your late you dont care about their time

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

energymaster — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:22:40 GMT

Dr M could publish an article on which hand to use to pick your nose and there'd be a page full of comments from some of you people who "don't have enough time"

I think a lot of people have way too much time on their hands...they just don't know how to use it!

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

Martienne — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:05:34 GMT

Now that I have strategies to try in an attempt to be on time, someone needs to help me find a way to get my autistic daughter moving when it's time to go! Between her trying to figure out which toys she needs to bring with her (because if she doesn't grab the perfect combination necessary it will result in a melt-down later on), her trying to figure out where her other shoe is (as someone else mentioned), getting her into the suv when she wants to pet both of the cats outside first (whether she sees them or not), and then allowing her time to get all of her toys positioned "just so" next to her in the booster seat.

Personally, I hate being early to appointments, so I try to be there in perfect timing. Of course this never works, so I'm prone to being five minutes late to everything. I'm going to have to try some of these suggestions listed here. I did just recently put a clock in every room, even the hallway and bathrooms, so that I will never lost track of time. It still happens though, especially when I'm deep in thought.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

thefavorite1 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:24:19 GMT

It seems to me that the "early" or "on time" people stress more about the ones who are late than the ones who run late.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

Lissco — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:27:19 GMT

Magnolia, Amen! I agree wholeheartedly!!

In regards to the comment about happiness of those people who are on time versus those who are late, I am a person who HAS to be on time. So much so that I arrive early just to make sure I am not late. And I am a very happy person. The fact that I can keep my schedule makes me a happy and productive person. Its those that refuse to show up on time that aggravate me. At the gym, I get there early so I can get a good spot in the workout room, only to have someone run in at the last minute and set up their equipment right behind me or so close to me I cannot correctly perform the exercises because of lack of space. Or at the movie theatre, I get there early to get a good spot only to have someone (after the lights go out and movie started) stand over me trying to find out if there are seats open in my row.

It is very hard to maintain happiness when you constantly have to make concession for those who choose to be late.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

KellieM — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:17:24 GMT

I understand that in other cultures it may not be a sign of rudeness or being so full of yourself that you consider no one else, BUT we are in the USA...it IS a sign of rudeness, an issue of control, and just plain arrogant to be late. Having said that, I do believe "emergencies" happen, but in this day and age of cell phones (stuck to peoples head by the way) no excuse for not contacting someone to let them know that you will be late and perhaps why.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

triciamc — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:57:37 GMT

I agree with no. 9. The one about the filling your gas early. A friend of mine always told people that the top of the tank was the same cost to fill as the bottom of the tank. How true.

re: How to Be On Time Every Time

pineahead — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:50:04 GMT

We don't live in another culture. If and when you do it is very acceptable to conform to that culture. WHen someone is chronically late it sends the message that they think they are more important than others or they are control freaks ( which I have found to be the case in more ways than one with these late individuals).