How to be punctual?

[PowerLifter84]

This is something that I've ALWAYS had a problem with, especially with school and work (ie. places I'm not exactly thrilled about going to).

Anyone else have a hard time being punctual and if you do, how are you going about it to overcome the issue?

 

[Xander06]

Have you tried wearing a watch?

 

[PowerLifter84]

I haven't worn a watch in years, LOL! Most of the time I'm around a clock so I doubt that would help much.

 

[Xander06]

I'm amazed you get anywhere at all. If I don't have a watch its like I'm lost in time.

 

[tanyachrs]

Not to sound like I'm criticizing you, but my punctuality comes from how bad I feel about making people wait for me and how stupid I feel when I'm left waiting for them. It feels important to me to be on time.

 

[Malaria]

make a concious effort to leave earlier?

 

[NaughtyLil1]

Think positive, put on a happy face and just go. Habitual tardiness, especially in the work place, drives me insane. How does your employer handle this? Do you get wrote up?

 

[Kailey_86]

i don't have trouble getting places on time i but i do have trouble getting things done sometimes. i find that if i just don't think about the fact that i hate the task i can get through it. Maybe this will work for you too. Leave early and don't think about where you are going or what you will be doing when you get there. This will make it less likely that you will wait to the last minute to leave. Hope i helped in some way. Good luck!

 

[Weird Harold]

Anyone else have a hard time being punctual and if you do, how are you going about it to overcome the issue?

I used to have a problem with punctuality but then I grew up.

I don't mean that as aput-down, because it's literally true -- I didn't overcome my lack of punctuality until I gained some life experience and was put in the position of being the person who had to deal with a lack of punctuality in others.

The simplest way to be puntual is to plan ahead and give yourself "time to get lost on the way." Any time you hve to be a particular place at a particular time, give yourself about five minutes per mile and think of that adjusted time as when you MUST be there. i.e. if school is three miles away, and starts at 0800, plan to be there at 0745.

"Time to Get Lost" isn't just about travel times though -- I have a bad habit of "getting lost in the shower" so I plan on at least ten minutes longer than a shower should take to allow for those time when my mind wanders and I lose track of time while showering. "Time to get lost" is about adopting the attitutde that if anyone is going to wait for someone, it's going to be you waiting on people instead of others waiting on you.

 

[PowerLifter84]

How does my employer feel? I'd say 70% of the employees are between 5-10 minutes late every shirt and according to a stat I read on the net (which could be bunk for all I know), is that 60% of people are late for work.

I have no problem getting the job done once I am there and that's probably a reason why they don't care.

 

[webber1998]

I've always been late. I am habitually late for everything outside of work. I never leave or alot enough time to get things done before heading out the door. I'm also a terrible procrastinator.

I will be following this thread for a while.

 

[NaughtyLil1]

How does my employer feel? I'd say 70% of the employees are between 5-10 minutes late every shirt and according to a stat I read on the net (which could be bunk for all I know), is that 60% of people are late for work.

I have no problem getting the job done once I am there and that's probably a reason why they don't care.

You're lucky you work for a tolerable employer. That would never fly where I'm at as we have patients waiting on us. I guess it depends on what line of work you're in.

 

[KnightInArmour]

No suggestions.

 

[speed2spare]

my biggest pet peeve

I believe that being habitaully late is simply a choice. If you can read a clock or watch, and know what time you are to be somewhere, you can make it if you choose to. You know how long it takes to get ready, and make it to your destination. Maybe you just need to remind yourself there is a reason there was a specified time. And not just show up when you feel like it. Others are counting on you to be there.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

20 years in the military should do it!

 

[Leah57]

20 years in the military should do it!

not necessarily... my ex is a retired Marine (21 years) - that man will be late for his own funeral, I'm SURE of it!

 

[Bandit58]

I always plan to be somewhere at least 15 minutes before I actually have to. I hate being late no matter whether I am going for a doctor's appointment or just meeting someone for coffee. I always wear a watch, and if for some reason I forget it my mobile phone has the time prominently displayed on it

My daughter is habitually late for everything. She leaves things till the last minute just about every time. When I had to pick her up I would tell her to be ready half an hour before I was going to be there, and she would still be fluffing around when I got there

If you have a mobile or a watch with an alarm, try setting it to beep half an hour before you have to leave to get to work or wherever. It gives you the time to do the last minute things like grab keys jacket etc and still leave time to get out the door early

 

[yorker85]

I'm one of those people that is never on time. I'm always EARLY. I always give myself extra time because a 5 minute drive really takes 12 minutes. Finding a parking spot and walking to where you have to be takes 3-5 minutes.

I consider it a priority to be where I have to be when I have to be there.

 

[eunuch]

Never Late again

I was born a month late and haven't been late to anything since (that was remotely within my control).

My mom hasn't been on time for ANYTHING in 40 years that I know of...

The older she gets the later she shows up for things. Made my dad an hour late for his own funeral. He was in an urn riding in the front seat of her car. Folks at the graveside started leaving after 30-40 minutes...

If we meet for dinner - about the only time we meet - she habitually shows up 20 -30 minutes late. Last time I ordered at the appointed time, ate my meal when it came. She showed up as I was leaving the tip on the table.

I got up, kissed her on the cheek and thanked her for the dinner and walked out.

You show me how much you respect me by being where we plan to meet WHEN we plan to meet.

 

[PowerLifter84]

I was two minutes early to class today but it just happened to turn out like that. The one thing I noticed is that I woke up a little late and took a quick shower, ate my breakfast, did everything else really quickly and was out the door. If I wake up on time and have no reason to hurry, I tend to screw around too much and that's what makes me late. If my alarm doesn't go off or wake up a little later than usual, that's when I'm on time. Odd, huh?