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How to Be On Time Every Time

lateAre you constantly late for important meetings, family get-togethers and other appointments? Well here’s something to consider: being late is not only stressful on yourself, it’s stressful for the people who have to wait for you.

And if you’re rarely on time, you can easily send the message that the people you’re meeting with are not that important to you -- clearly a message that can damage both personal and professional relationships.

Changing your ways and being on time requires a bit of an attitude adjustment. Either don’t schedule events that aren’t important to you, or figure out a way to make those events feel important.

This Lifehack article has 10 more great tips that all of us can take advantage of to become more punctual:

1. Don’t check your email or voicemail right before you leave. That “last quick check” will almost always take more time than you think.

2. Plan for trouble. Always add 25 percent to your time estimate to get anywhere or do any task.

3. Set up the night before. Lay out your clothes, put your wallet in your pants pockets or purse, load up your bag with whatever material you’ll need, put your lunch together, and so on.

4. Set your clocks ahead a few minutes -- by different amounts. You might have a look at the Procrastinator’s Clock, which is some random amount of time ahead, up to 15 minutes.

5. Learn to better estimate how much time things take. Use a time tracker app like RescueTime to learn how long typical tasks take you to complete.

6. Schedule events 10 minutes early. Put your 1:00 appointment into your schedule at 12:50.

7. Set reminders. Use your calendar program’s built-in reminder function, or use a service like Sandy to send you text reminders at set intervals before each appointment

8. Schedule events for “off-peak” times. Learn the times that traffic or other factors might make you late, and avoid scheduling during those times.

9. Fill your gas tank when it reaches 1/4 tank. Don’t let an empty gas tank make you late for anything.

10. Use a countdown timer. Grab a cheap digital timer, and use it to create a sense of urgency.

One other thing to consider if you have trouble being on time … your schedule. If you try to fit too much into a day, you’ll not only risk being late, you’ll risk burning out physically and emotionally.

In this short video, physician and futurist Dr. Richard Swenson has got some great tips on how to create more time to do the things you really want. It involves making a bigger “margin” in your life -- an essential thing not only for being on time but also for being happy.

Sources:

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Comment on This Article Community Comments (45)
 
 
Posted On Jun 22, 2008
With five kids, ANYTHING can happen, no matter how much  you plan.   I actually have different bags for different occasions and each contains at least a small first aid kit (band-aids, arnica, lavender and tea tree oils, wipes, and 2 diapers (4 for for the entire-day bag), pen, pencil, and a small notepad.

Unfortunately, shoes have a tendency to migrate and no matter how hard I try.  At least ONE of the shoes seems to get bored of it's little spot by the door and finds a more interesting place like under the couch or behind the bookcase.  I swear they have feet of their own.  One of these days I'm going to set up a webcam to find out.

 
nanciesweb
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
nanciesweb  
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Posted On Jul 08, 2008

Nancie,

I also have 5 kids and as a word of encouragement, it gets easier as they get older! All of that time & effort you're spending now, teaching them to be organized, prepared, ect. will likely become the way they choose to lead their lives also. Of course, there may be straying from your modeling, but eventually they'll probably go back to the way mom did it, it's a comfortable reminder that good things are those ways that worked in our families. Good for you for taking such excellent time with your children, enjoy the missing shoes, socks, and crazy things. It sounds like you also bring laughter into your home and a sense of "going with the flow", making the best of the funny things that inevitably happen. I enjoyed your post!


 
 
 
Posted On Jun 21, 2008
Being punctual is plain common courtesy. Why waste other people's time by being late? I plan to arrive early to most events, meetings, etc. If I have a little extra time once I get there, I either work on something I have brought along with me, or I network.

People who chronically arrive late are making a statement, whether consciously or subconsciously, that the event/meeting isn't important to them or the other participants aren't worthy of their respect enough for them to arrive on time. Either way, its insulting to the folks who planned ahead to be on time.

It isn't that hard to plan ahead. And believe me, its worth it in gained productivity.

 
Magnolia
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
Magnolia  
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Lelia
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
Lelia  
 
Posted On Jun 24, 2008
I don't like the stress of being late.  I also know how much time I need to get ready, what time I need to leave and how long it will take me to get where I'm going.  My friends who are habitually late don't seem to have these things in place.  They are busy doing one more thing before they leave and thinking up excuses as to why they are always late.


DizzyIzzy1
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2007
DizzyIzzy1  
 
Posted On Jul 08, 2008

Not always... I have Aspergers and a part of that for me means I have pretty much zero concept of time. I'm forever late, and no matter how hard I try to be on time to meetings and to work and to everything else I'll always be five to ten minutes behind schedule - I literally just cannot get my head around it. I can easily just sit and stare into space for a few minutes without realising it and voom, there goes another five minutes. I'll plan to leave early, I'll have everything ready the night before and organised and ready because I know how late I always am, but no matter what I do it never has much impact. People just think "Oh that's just Belle...", little do they know...!!

I spend my life trying to be on time, and even more time being late. I'm not making a statement or being disrespectful, I just cannot for the life of me do it! But you've inspired me to try and be a minute earlier than usual every day this week, and perhaps a minute earlier than that the next. ;)



A Storm
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
A Storm  
 
Posted On Jul 12, 2008

I believe in the 'give and take'.

I am mostly on time and expect others to do the same.

My dentist is always on time.

My time is valuable-at least to me.

But when my clinic was CRONICALLY over 45 min late, I switched.  I can give a little but when I have an early apointment and you are OVERBOOKED due to poor management(more people in, more$$), I will walk.  There are several times that I checked in and after 45min of waiting-- left.  I figure that if the doctor is that far behind, they could use some cancellations!!



Perka
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2006
Perka  
 
Posted On Jul 20, 2008

I was chronically late for my first 30 years.  Then I discovered the reason.  If I arrive early or someone else is late, I feel very anxious.  I now carry a book every place I go and it keeps me anxiety-free.  It's also great to have a book if you have to wait a long time at a doctor's appointment or if the car breaks down.  


 
 
 
Posted On Jul 08, 2008

I just wanted to make a statement that arriving late is NOT discourteous in every culture in the world.  Sure, westerners might feel that chronic lateness is rude, but I have lived in places where I have waited two hours for someone to show up, and it was not meant to be rude at all.

In one country I lived in, guests show up to their homes unexpected every single day at varying times. Therefore, they usually do not plan things days in advance. So then if I bring my western culture into the mix and try to plan a get together a few days in advance, then they will most likely be late because of guests who showed up uninvited at the same time they should be leaving to meet me. :)  

This is just one of many possible scenarios that explain why people may be late in other cultures. Additionally, many cultures do not have a slave relationship to the clock. Life is more fluid and not set in stone. :)  It may drive westerners crazy, or then again, we can embrace it as a unique color in the human cultural tapestry.


 
Texwegians
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2008
Texwegians  
 
 
 
Posted On Jul 08, 2008

Not everybody is good with planning ahead. My husband does it effortlessly (left brain dominant) and I  sometimes have to work on my adrenalin levels to get things done, being more right brain dominant. That is also stressfull to me and I sometimes envy people who can be so in tune with the clock, but then again ..... Let each one take life in his/her own stride. Mine is at times slow and at times fast, but I feel more in tune with myself when there is no time constraint and deadlines. I do not want to judge other people according to their time management and punctuality. Give each other a bit of space and respect to do it their own authentic way as long as each one is a responsible citizen....slow down........slow food..........slow eating............slow love .....................slow to judge......................slow tortoise..................


 
Atterbury
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 3/2008
Atterbury  
 
 
 
Posted On Jul 08, 2008

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!


 
energymaster
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
energymaster  
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Islander
Moderator User Moderator User Joined On 3/2007
Islander  
 
Posted On Jul 08, 2008

Energymaster, I make time to pick my nose for 12 seconds every morning when I wake up. Prioritizing is the key to getting things done!



energymaster
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
energymaster  
 
Posted On Jul 08, 2008

Yeah, but which hand do you use?


 
 
 
 
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